Extreme heat is taking a toll on firefighters as wildfires stretch crews to the limit

Wildland firefighters face heat from the environment, the fire and their own bodies as they work long, exhausting hours. The head of Purdue’s fire lab explains the health risks and what can help.

By: Julian L. Gallegos, Purdue University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 27, 2026

Words: 1,152

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Julian L. Gallegos, Purdue University

When a wildfire threatens a community, most people don’t think to ask whether the firefighters coming to help slept enough the night before, recovered from the previous day’s shift or have enough energy left for another day on the fire line. They simply expect firefighters to show up.

But that workforce is increasingly being stretched to its limits.

The U.S. national fire preparedness level has been at 5

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