How can firefighters stay safe from the impacts of bushfire smoke?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-11-03 00:01

Australia; NSW; VIC; WA

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We can do more to protect firefighters from the impacts of toxic bushfire smoke but there's a lot we still don't know, according to Australian researchers. The team reviewed existing research into the health impacts of bushfire smoke and mitigation strategies, aiming to help answer questions Australian firefighters have about their health, and help improve the guidance given to firefighters about keeping themselves safe. They identified a list of areas of concern for firefighters, including what protective gear they should use and how to maintain it, direct health impacts of smoke and potential long-term health impacts. The researchers say while there is research highlighting various risks of smoke to the heart and lungs as well as future cancer risks and what factors influence these risks, gaps in knowledge remain, including around the best management of protective gear and the impact of new firefighting practises such as handling electric vehicle fires and modern fire retardants.