WVFA Mountain State Forestry Winter 2020-21

F E A T U R E D N E W S SMOKE AND THE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS that come with long-term exposure is a natural part of the wildland fire environment, but COVID-19 is not. This unwelcome visitor poses a new threat to our society’s most vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, that includes our wildland firefighters. Although there is so much we still do not know about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines the disease as a respiratory illness caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. The symptoms often include cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell. Since it is believed that this disease is spread through droplets produced when an affected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the CDC recommends that we wear masks. While doing so is not a guarantee that one will not contract the virus, the CDC believes that mask wearing helps reduce the spread. There is no question that masks are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and cause increased breathing difficulties as a result of covering the main airway; however, in cases where respiratory issues already exist, such as the Division’s long-tenured wildland firefighters, it is extremely difficult. When engaged in fire suppression activities, wildland firefighters—using dangerous tools such as pulaskis, fire rakes, and shovels—always separate themselves to minimize the risk of injury to fellow firefighters; therefore, social distancing on the fire line is not particularly problematic. However, social distancing at base camp will be. Base Camp is an essential part of any firefighting assignment. It serves as a common place for the wildland firefighters to gather, discuss duty details, rest, and grab a quick bite to eat. It is usually considered a safety zone, but this year it may be the biggest health threat of all to our wildland firefighters. In small agencies, such as the WVDOF, base camp usually consists of gathering around one of our pickup trucks while grabbing take-out food from the tailgate. Fire suppression duties often require firefighters to remain on the scene for several hours—and sometimes for days. Usually, we are concerned about the hazards the firefighters can see, but this year we are more concerned about the one that they cannot. I fear, because of the sheer exhaustion they experience, our wildland firefighters will unknowingly become lax in protecting themselves while on duty. More than ever before, firefighters remaining vigilant will be key to their overall health and survival. Additionally, so many of the safety precautions recommended by the CDC simply cannot be implemented in a wildland firefighting environment. We can provide hand sanitizer and gloves, but not complete handwashing stations. We can provide masks, but we cannot minimize the respiratory illnesses they already suffer from as result of years spent protecting the state from wildfire. Wildland Firefighters at Even Greater Risk This Season Tom Cover Director/State Forester West Virginia Division of Forestry 8 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry | Winter 2020-2021 www.wvfa.org