ecology_on_fire

There is no question that the inhalation of carbon monoxide and particulate matter has negative effects on the health of those that inhale it on a regular basis. There is absolutely more research needed on how that specifically impacts wildland firefighters, and some of that is ongoing.

There are also groups like Grassroots Wildland Firefighters that are working to improve available resources, including health insurance, for our brave and hardworking wildland firefighters. Wildland firefighters do an important and difficult job, but many are seasonal employees who do not receive support like year round health insurance. There have been quite a few articles like this one addressing the need for change, and the Biden-Harris Administration has taken some action to increase pay for federal wildland firefighters.

Here are some more resources that may be helpful:
Wildland Fire Smoke Health Effects on Wildland Firefighters and the Public - https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/projects/wildland-fire-smoke-health-effects-wildland-firefighters-and-public
Wildland Fire Effects on Public Health: What does the Research Say?
https://southernfireexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-2.pdf

Our team is split on this one, so we plead the 5th with love for both.

Re: State replacement fires

Tree regeneration is currently getting a lot of research attention in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests in parts of the West. There are many examples of where these forests, which historically burned frequently, are now burning in uncharacteristically large patches with high-severity (think along the Colorado Front Range). Research has shown that post-fire tree regeneration is limited by burn severity, size, and post-burn weather patterns (think precipitation). Reintroducing prescribed fire and other active forest management practices may play an important role in helping to reduce the future occurrence of large, high-severity fires in low to mid-elevation forests - ultimately helping to keep forests as forests.

The coolest thing I have seen on a fire is the wonder and excitement on a student’s face when they light their first prescribed fire. The best part of my job at the University of Florida is teaching students how to light safe and ecologically sound fires.

Working in natural areas outside lets me see a lot of beautiful places and cool wildlife too. I have seen many animals moving away from fires, including snakes, rabbits and wood rats. Someone on our team once saw a Florida panther on their way to a huge burn at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. It was the largest burn in the state at the time, over 9,000 acres! Animals know what to do when a fire is in an area- they just move out of the way, even if the fire is large. This panther was simply leaving for a while, and likely returned later to feast on the small mammals that were enjoying the plant regrowth.

Research has not detected the constituents of fire retardant, including ammonia, phosphorus, and cyanide, in streams. Aquatic systems are only likely to be harmed if fire retardant is directly applied to a stream. Where fire retardant has been applied to plants, there has been a slight, but measurable increase in vegetation and no effect on insect activity.