Why Firefighters Are Facing Toxic Smoke With Little to No Protection
Ask students: Why is the Forest Service telling these firefighters not to wear masks? What have other countries found by having their wildfire firefighters wear masks?
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
At the height of wildfire season, thousands of firefighters regularly face a host of dangers on the frontline, including confronting toxic smoke. As seasons grow longer and more intense, the health of wildland firefighters is under renewed focus. Stephanie Sy spoke with Hannah Dreier of The New York Times about her report on major health issues firefighters are facing.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who are wildfire or wildland firefighters? Where do they work?
- What patterns did reporter Hannah Dreier notice amongst firefighters when it came to wearing masks?
- Why are these firefighters told not to wear masks by the Forest Service, according to this piece? What have other countries found by having their wildfire firefighters wear masks?
- When do firefighters not wear their masks that seems particularly risky, according to this piece?
- What are some potential health effects of not wearing masks?
Focus Questions
- How does the level of protection firefighters receive make you feel about their work?
- Do you believe that wildfire firefighters deserve more protection? Explain.
- Media Literacy: Do you believe the Forest Service will start their study again one day? Conduct some research as to why the people working on the study were laid off by the Trump administration.
Extension Activity
Learn more about wildfire firefighters in the U.S. by reading this excerpt from the New York Times piece via the Seattle Times here:
"It was once thought that smoke from burning trees was basically benign, like a campfire. Then, in 1988, thousands of firefighters developed breathing problems as they fought back a monthslong fire in Yellowstone National Park. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a team to investigate.
Their researchers found that the crews were breathing in a mix of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals. The CDC advised the Forest Service to ban bandannas — which offer “no degree of protection.” The CDC said the Forest Service should equip crews with respirator masks. The agency rejected that advice and commissioned more studies.
The Forest Service asked its own researchers how to better protect firefighters, and they came back with the same recommendation again and again: Give them masks.
Still, Forest Service leadership held off."
Write a critically reflective response (3-5 sentences) addressing the question: Do you think wildland firefighters should be required to wear masks? What questions would you ask the head of the Forest Service, if given the opportunity?
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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