U.S. Forest Service authorizes N95 respirators for federal firefighters

The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday that federal firefighters are now authorized to wear N95 respirators while fighting wildfires. The change reverses a decades-long policy that had prohibited such respiratory protection even though studies had documented health risks from wildfire smoke.

New protections and training Firefighters who elect to use the respirators must complete a training program first. Officials described the step as interim while the agency develops a full respiratory protection program that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

A decontamination program was also introduced. Firefighters will be paid for time spent washing clothes, cleaning vehicles, and showering after shifts.

Health context and limitations Inhaled wildfire smoke can carry gases and particles into the bloodstream. Studies have linked such exposure to higher rates of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease among wildland firefighters. N95 respirators filter particles but do not block gases such as carbon monoxide.

Officials noted the masks may be removed if a firefighter becomes overheated and are not intended for steep terrain or direct flame contact. More than 34,000 wildfires have burned at least 2.7 million acres so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Both figures exceed the ten-year average.