Gallego, Colleagues: Trump Administration Must Do More to Protect Wildland Firefighters from Dangerous Smoke Exposure

WASHINGTON - Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) demanded the Trump administration ensure federal wildland firefighters are adequately protected from wildfire smoke as these heroes risk their lives to protect the American people and our public lands.

"Every day, wildland firefighters risk their lives to combat wildfire and keep us safe from longer and more extreme fire seasons. This often requires multiple days and weeks - and sometimes months - being exposed to the smoke and other products of combustion generated from these fires. Experts have clearly stated that 'there is no safe level of exposure to wildfire smoke,'" wrote the Senators in their letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. "In fact, compared to regular air pollution, wildfire smoke is approximately 10 times as toxic and breathing it in can cause a wide range of negative health outcomes. Keeping wildland firefighters safe from - not just wildfires - but also the effects of smoke exposure is vital to ensuring this workforce can continue to keep us safe."

The Senators' letter follows a recent report from The New York Times that spotlighted how wildland firefighters are increasingly falling ill due to wildfire smoke exposure, facing increased rates of cardiovascular and lung issues, cancer, and premature death.

"One key tool in protecting against this exposure is wearing a proper mask to mitigate the respiratory negative health outcomes of smoke inhalation - a recommendation that researchers have been making to Forest Service since at least 1997. However, still no masks or other type of respiratory protection is provided to federal wildland firefighters as a part of their personal protective equipment (PPE),"the Senators pointed out in their letter.

The letter comes as Arizona faces a historic wildfire season. The Dragon Bravo Fire, still burning today, has already scorched 145,504 acres, making it the seventh-largest wildfire in our state's history.

Read the full letter HERE.

9/12/25