Day-to-Day Hazards and Working Conditions for Wildland Firefighters

Field Life

Mar 4

*Digging a cup trench to catch rolling debris on a steep slope*

It may sound extreme, but I have absolutely had days when I worked 16 hours straight with only a few short 5 minute breaks.

We can cover lots of miles in a day and that wears on you. I have done countless 8-12 mile days with some up into the high teens. Those days you have to really dig deep and find ways to break through mental and physical barriers.

Generally we walk off trail to get around fires, and also along dirt roads or lines cut by hand or bulldozers. This can make for very uneven, side slope or rocky walking with a heavy pack on your back at all times in very steep and unforgiving terrain. Your feet can get really raw and form blisters in places you wouldn’t expect.

Digging line can be exhausting and a little mind-numbing. You swing a hand tool, which generally weighs 7 pounds, over and over again to remove soil and debris down to mineral soil that no longer has combustible material in it. We are basically creating what look like a single-track trail that acts as a fuel break and hopefully stops the fire from progressing.

I’ve woken up with my hands curled into claws and dotted with open blisters from digging line and my feet aching and so bone tired I didn’t think I could possibly walk another step or swing my tool, but I did, that day and many days after.

Falling trees, fire entrapments, searing hot ash pits, embers, snakes, spiders, scorpions, bees, wasps, moose, bears, aircraft, helicopters, driving, rolling debris, tripping, falling, giant blisters, chainsaws, axes, lightning, wind, fire whirls, I could go on and on.

There are literally a million ways to harm yourself or others during normal daily work or out on the fireline. It’s important to always keep this in the back of your mind and keep your situational awareness up at all times. If you see something dangerous and can prevent something bad from happening, say something!

Keeping a good attitude is also really important. You can be happy and satisfied doing the work or you can get mad and annoyed about it. It’s up to you. Find the fun and camaraderie with your crew members. You can get close really fast with the people you work with because you rely on each other for so much. It’s a really special thing. A bad mood spreads fast and a dark cloud takes over the crew.

I’ve been freezing cold getting out of my sleeping bag in the morning and sweating profusely on the fireline just hours later. Temperatures can be wildly different throughout a shift.

It’s important to find what works for you and what you need to be comfortable while you work. Being prepared and having what you need with you in your pack will make all the difference. I treat myself by buying my favorite portable snacks and good coffee for when I really need it on the fireline.

I have many gear lists and more info to explore on what to expect while working a fire season.