For decades, firefighters facing some of the stateโs most destructive wildfires worked without proper masks or respirators, despite evidence showing long-term health risks from wildfire smoke. Thatโs why a bipartisan group of senators, including California Democrat Adam Schiff and Utah Republican John Curtis, introduced the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters on Monday.
If Congress passes the bipartisan bill, it would ensure the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior โtake long overdue steps to protect the health of these heroes,โ the billโs authors said in a press release. This legislation was co-sponsored by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana). โWildland firefighters deploy in the most extreme conditions to combat wildfires, preserve vital ecosystems, and save lives,โ Padilla said in a press release.
โThese heroic men and women should not be forced to face long-term illness or premature death due to smoke exposure on the job.โ For decades, the U.S. Forest Service banned firefighters from wearing masks, arguing that they were too unwieldy for the job. In September, the Forest Service posted new guidance, paving the way for the new legislation.
