// Occupations and Workplaces

Wildland Firefighter

What does a wildland firefighter do? Wildland firefighters work in natural areas, such as forests, grasslands and other similar environments to prevent and suppress fires, both nationally and internationally.

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Wildland firefighters work in natural areas, such as forests, grasslands and other similar environments to prevent and suppress fires, both nationally and internationally. Wildland firefighting is a physically demanding job which requires diverse skills, from operating machinery to managing complex fire operations in remote areas. Wildland firefighters spend prolonged periods in remote, rugged environments, often camping out in the field for extended durations. The role involves significant teamwork, technical knowledge, and the ability to adapt to ever-changing environments. Wildland firefighters perform a variety of activities to contain and mitigate fire risks. Some duties may include: For more general information related to firefighters, please see our OSH Answers Fire Fighter.

  • duty Create a fireline (a break in the fire’s path) by cutting, scraping, or digging vegetation.
  • duty Use drip torches to conduct planned, controlled burns during burnout operations.
  • duty Locate and extinguish residual fire activity along a fire’s edge in mop-up operations.
  • duty Use and maintain various equipment to perform firefighting activities, including shovels, chainsaws, water pumps, chemical extinguishers, and pumps.
  • duty Rescue hikers and others who may be caught in the fire.
  • duty Assist in aerial firefighting operations by coordinating with aircraft, such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes, for water drops and fireline support.
  • duty Drive specialized vehicles, including fire trucks and all-terrain vehicles, to access fire areas and transport personnel and equipment.
  • duty Use radios and other communication devices to coordinate within the team and with command units.
  • duty Maintain physical readiness through regular fitness testing and meeting physical standards.
  • duty Undergo routine medical assessments to ensure fitness for duty and to monitor health risks associated with the physical and environmental stresses of wildland firefighting.
  • duty Participate in continuous training programs to stay current on firefighting techniques, equipment, safety protocols, and incident management.

Wildland firefighters are exposed to many hazards, including biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards. Biological hazards Chemical hazards Ergonomic hazards Physical hazards Psychosocial hazards Safety Hazards

  • biological Exposure to zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmitted between animals and people), including those transmitted by ticks, mosquitoes, and wildlife.
  • biological Insect stings, including those from bees, wasps, hornets, and ants.
  • chemical Exposure to wildland fire smoke, which may contain fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful chemicals.
  • chemical Exposure to diesel exhaust, gasoline, and aviation fuel.
  • general Exposure to contaminated equipment or surfaces.
  • chemical Chemicals in firefighting foams and retardants.
  • chemical Asbestos, silica, and other building materials that may burn in the vicinity.
  • psychosocial Night and shift work.
  • ergonomic Excessive digging, shovelling, and heavy lifting.
  • ergonomic Carrying heavy loads and other manual materials handling.
  • physical Ultraviolet radiation.
  • physical Hot temperatures and other extreme environmental conditions, such as lightning and strong winds.
  • physical Noise.
  • psychosocial Fatigue due to long hours and physical demands.
  • psychosocial Workplace stress, especially in high-pressure situations.
  • safety Witnessing traumatic events, such as fire-related fatalities.
  • general Isolation when working in remote areas.
  • chemical Long periods away from home, which can lead to potential emotional strain and difficulty in maintaining personal relationships.
  • general Tools, such as chainsaws, torches, and chippers.
  • general Heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and excavators.
  • general Radiant heat.
  • safety Falling trees and branches.
  • safety Uneven surfaces resulting in slips, trips, or falls.
  • safety Vehicle rollovers, including the use of off-road vehicles.
  • safety Aviation incidents involving aircraft used for air support or fire suppression activities.
  • general Wildlife encounters, including attacks or aggressive behaviour from animals, such as bears or snakes.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies the occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) based on sufficient evidence for cancer in humans. Occupational exposure as a firefighter causes: The International Agency for Research on Cancer also concluded there is limited evidence of an association between occupational exposure as a firefighter and the following cancers: While studies on the long-term health risks specifically for wildland firefighters are limited, some studies suggest that wildland firefighters are at an increased risk of:

  • general Mesothelioma (cancer that forms in the tissue that lines your lungs or abdomen)
  • general Bladder cancer
  • biological Blood cancer (non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
  • general Colon cancer
  • general Prostate cancer
  • general Skin cancer (melanoma)
  • general Testicular cancer
  • biological High blood pressure,
  • general Irregular heartbeat,
  • general Lung cancer and other respiratory issues, and
  • general Cardiovascular disease.

Biological hazards Chemical hazards Ergonomic hazards Physical hazards Psychosocial hazards Safety Hazards

  • requirement Encourage vaccination, such as the rabies vaccine, if available and appropriate.
  • administrative Have procedures in place to respond swiftly to insect stings and potential allergic reactions.
  • requirement Provide insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin.
  • requirement Provide mosquito nets when spending time in unscreened outdoor structures, such as tents.
  • requirement Ensure full body tick checks are completed after working outdoors, concentrating on feet, armpits, back of knees, elbows, hair, and behind ears, waist, and groin areas.
  • ppe Purchase per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)-free personal protective equipment for firefighters where possible.
  • requirement Use the air recirculation mode in vehicles to minimize the intake of outside air during heavy smoke conditions.
  • requirement Use air scrubbers (air filtration units) where possible, such as in incident base camps.
  • requirement Establish decontamination zoning using a red, yellow and green (or hot, warm and cold) system to prevent harmful chemicals from travelling to clean areas.
  • administrative Rotate crews out of areas with heavy smoke.
  • requirement Avoid positions downwind when firefighting.
  • requirement Avoid travelling deep into the active burn area when not required.
  • requirement Minimize mop-up operations, where possible, by using roads or other natural features, such as rock bands, as indirect firelines to reduce the amount of time spent near the active fire’s edge.
  • requirement Locate camps and staging areas upwind of the fire to limit smoke exposure.
  • requirement Clean vehicle and aircraft cabins once they have returned to a base post-shift.
  • requirement Avoid transporting contaminated gear in personal vehicles.
  • ppe If transporting contaminated gear in personal vehicles cannot be avoided, personal protective equipment and fireline workwear should be bagged in a waterproof bag, sealed, and isolated from any occupant(s) in the vehicle. Hands should be washed or gloved when handling gear, and vehicles should be cleaned after transport. Fireline workwear should be laundered at the earliest opportunity upon returning to the base.
  • requirement Provide workers with showers and clean clothing immediately after returning to base.
  • administrative Optimize shift schedules, including managing work-rest cycles to avoid fatigue.
  • administrative Provide breaks to reduce strain from awkward positions or repetitive physical tasks.
  • requirement Encourage proper techniques for physical tasks, such as digging and shovelling.
  • requirement Acclimatize workers to hot environments gradually to prevent heat stress. For new and returning workers, increase the duration and level of physical activity gradually.
  • administrative Rotate workers throughout the day to minimize heat exposures and exertion.
  • requirement Establish work-rest regimens as recommended in health and safety legislation and guidance.
  • requirement Implement a hearing conservation program.
  • requirement Provide proper clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun exposure.
  • administrative Train workers to identify and manage stress.
  • requirement Provide a debriefing session or counselling after traumatic incidents to help workers process their experiences.
  • requirement Keep tools and equipment in good working order.
  • administrative Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected and encourage safe driving practices.
  • requirement Keep camps away from food-rich or wildlife-prone areas.
  • requirement Use proper food storage and disposal methods to prevent attracting animals.
  • administrative Implement procedures for handling wildlife encounters.
  • requirement Ensure aviation operations follow strict safety protocols, such as those from Transport Canada, to minimize the risk of incidents.
  • requirement Implement an emergency preparedness and response plan.
  • requirement Wear seatbelts and adjust to suit road conditions.
  • requirement Avoid driving when fatigued or impaired.
  • requirement Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.
  • requirement Avoid smoking.
  • requirement Get plenty of sleep to ensure rest and recovery.
  • requirement Rest in cool areas and stay hydrated when possible.
  • requirement Maintain situational awareness and be aware of escape routes.
  • ppe Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • general Report hazards, injuries, and illnesses to your supervisor.

It is important that fire service organizations have their own emergency response plans, especially since access to emergency services may not be readily available. Emergency response plans help prepare for unforeseen situations that may occur during a response, such as explosions, injuries, medical emergencies, rapidly changing fire conditions, and other crisis situations. For wildland firefighter organizations, an emergency response plan may include: The plan should be tailored to your organization, the unique challenges of a remote environment, and changing fire conditions.

  • context Procedures for alerting workers in case of an emergency.
  • context Rescue protocols for injured or trapped workers.
  • context Worker evacuation procedures and designated assembly locations.
  • context Contact information for key personnel.
  • context First aid and medical assistance.
  • context Measures for preventing workplace violence.
  • context Worker training and drills.
  • context Fact sheet first published: 2026-03-12

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Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Fire Service

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Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Fire Service Firefighter
17 practices Open →
Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Fire Service Wildland Firefighter
44 practices hand protection Open →

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Chemicals

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Chemicals Diesel Exhaust
15 practices respiratory protection Open →
Chemicals Asbestos - Health Effects
0 practices Open →
Chemicals Silica, quartz
1 practices Open →

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Diseases, Disorders, Injuries

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Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Rabies
4 practices Open →

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Lifting, pushing, pulling

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Lifting, pushing, pulling Shovelling
3 practices foot protectionhand protection Open →
Lifting, pushing, pulling MMH - Introduction
0 practices Open →

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Radiation

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Radiation Ultraviolet Radiation
2 practices Open →

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Shiftwork

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Shiftwork Rotational Shiftwork
0 practices Open →

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Stress

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Stress Workplace Stress – General
0 practices Open →
Wildland Firefighter
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