Wildland Firefighter Science Needs Assessment
What do we currently know about wildland firefighter health and well-being?
​What kind of future research on these topics would be most helpful and impactful for the wildfire management community?
Our team is answering these questions by conducting the Wildland Firefighter Science Needs Assessment. This two-year project, run by the Montrose Lab at Colorado State University, is funded by USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station and Joint Fire Science Program. ​​
Phase 1 - Scoping review of research on wildland firefighter health and well-being (2025)
Phase 2 - Science Needs Assessment on wildland firefighter health and well-being (2026)
photo courtesy Cecilio Ricardo, US Forest Service
Background
In recent years, wildland firefighters have confronted increased fire activity. The complexity of fire suppression has increased due to urban sprawl, an overabundance of fuel (vegetation), a longer duration of summer temperatures, and extreme weather conditions. Research on some wildland firefighter health topics, such as smoke exposure, dates to the 1970s. But wildland firefighters are now facing different work conditions that may demand updated data and research methodologies. Other topics, such as community assets, hazard mitigation strategies and prevalence of adverse health effects such as PTSD in firefighters, appear to have received less attention from researchers of wildland firefighting and wildfire management.
Study Goals
1
Clarify the state of the science on wildland firefighters’ health and well-being
2
Determine which topics have been well-covered and conversely, which topics are emerging as important future directions for research
3
Avoid duplication of research by making science priorities clear to both scientists and wildfire management practitioners
4
Understand and document the health and well-being topics and types of research that are valued by wildland firefighters
5
Inform stakeholders such as the Joint Fire Science Program and Wildland Fire Medical and Public Health Advisory Team on priorities for future wildland firefighter health and well-being research
photo courtesy Preston Keres, USDA Forest Service
Meet the Science Needs Assessment Team
Contact the WFSNA team
Colorado State University
200 West Lake Street
Fort Collins, CO 80523
123-456-7890
Want to learn more about the Science Needs Assessment Study?