The Sacrifice of Wildland Firefighters

Being a part of the wildland fire community is something I never thought I would do. I never would have guessed that my job would consist of pure adrenaline, running into fires with a fifty-pound pack of line gear, a pulaski, and no idea if I would make it out or not. I knew that whatever I did, I wanted to be an inspiration, or someone people could admire. I figured that would be through something I loved, like dancing or painting– maybe even being a renowned author. But life had other plans for me. In this essay, I plan to bring to light the sacrifices wildland firefighters make for the community as well as themselves, and give a little insight into my experiences being a starting wildland firefighter. 

In the summer of 2023, after I graduated high school, I decided that I wanted to take a gap year and go travel. However, I needed the money first. So, I applied for the first job I saw that paid a decent amount of money for the summer in the area I was living - wildland firefighting. I assumed it would be somewhat of an easy summer job, where we would be outside often, and when there was a fire, we could just go up there with a big hose and put it out. Simple as that. I would get the money I needed, go on to traveling the world, and then come back and do whatever was next.

That was my plan anyway… 

I started my first season of fire in Kamiah, ID, through the Idaho Department of Lands in the Maggie Creek area. Within the second day of starting there, I had to do the pack test. The pack test is something everyone has to do to become qualified as a wildland firefighter. It requires you to walk and/or run for three miles, carrying forty-five pounds, in under forty-five minutes. I will add that having a good exercise regimen before starting this kind of job is highly recommended. Seeing as I did not train at all before starting this job, I struggled big time. I had to take the pack test twice for a couple of reasons: number one, I didn’t bring sneakers to do the pack test in. In the flyer that was given to me, it said to wear your fire boots for the pack test, but when I showed up, everyone was wearing good running shoes. So, I did my first round in my “not broken in” new boots. I couldn’t complete it because of how much pain my feet were in. The second time I did the pack test was better, though. My crew and I did it on the track, with tennis shoes, and the assistant fire warden ran it with us and helped keep the pace. I was able to complete the test in forty-one minutes. Not bad for a rookie, right? 

One of the things that struck me after completing the pack test was that I had no idea my body was capable of accomplishing such a feat. I had not prepared for the job physically; I knew nothing about what I was going to have to do, other than learning some things in guard school, and I most certainly didn’t know what kind of danger I would be running into. I realized that the majority of this job was going to be a mind game, and that no matter what my body told me, no matter how much it hurt, I had to push through. Why? Because not only was I doing those things for myself, but for others, too. 

One day, at work, it was really hot outside. Kamiah sits in a valley, absorbing the heat like you wouldn’t believe. My crew decided that we should go on patrol, which is where we drive around the district and survey the area, because being in the engine with AC was a far better alternative than sitting in the shop awaiting heat exhaustion.. As we left, we decided to go to the store for some of us to grab lunch stuff, since we would be out all day. It was my first time being out in public wearing my work clothes. At the time, I didn’t think it was going to draw any attention. The only thing we wear is a thick gray logo T-shirt, green Nomex pants, and our work boots. What could be special about that? As we walked into the store, people started to compliment us and admire what we do.

It dawned on me that these people not only saw us as young kids trying to make a living, but as heroes. We were the ones they relied on, despite not even knowing us.

As the summer went on, I was in awe of how grateful people were when we came in and worked to save their homes and land. Helping people in this way not only protects their physical property, it also protects their livelihood, sometimes including crops and livestock, and the memories that are made there. Having this mindset is what got me, and probably everyone else, through the heavy exertion we had to face out on the fireline. I have always had a strong desire to help those in need, so this moment definitely played a part in leading me to where I am today. 

As cool as this job sounds, there are several sacrifices that wildland firefighters have to make for the community and themselves. Each employee is required to work a forty-hour work week, but that changes as the season goes on. When a crew gets called out to a fire, they end up in overtime and get paid extra. This isn’t a bad thing, but the unplanned extra hours means more time away from family. Additionally, most crews move to full seven-day coverage in July, where they stay and work longer hours due to the increasing number of fires. Firefighters can also get sent out on an assignment, where another district or state calls for assistance. In these cases, a crew will get sent to the fireline for fourteen days, give or take. These are great opportunities for a firefighter to enhance their experience in the job. On the other hand, this can be hard on relationships with family members. Having to be away from a spouse and/or children for an extended period of time can be hard on some families. Most people know this when they sign up, but it is important to think about when trying to balance an unpredictable job and spending quality time with your loved ones. 

Secondly, when working in wildland fire, there are several hazards one has to watch out for while being in the field. One of those hazards is trees. When fire is raging through a site, it can cause trees to burn straight to the canopy, depending on the weather and atmosphere. This can lead to trees falling where firefighters may be working. Healthy trees don’t necessarily do this, but snags can. Snags are dead or dying trees that remain standing and are usually identified by missing branches and a decayed trunk. When ignited, they almost always come crashing to the ground. Burning trees are very dangerous to firefighters, and it is important to be watching out for them when out on the fire line. Logs can also roll if a fire is burning up or down a steep incline or slope. In my experience, people out on the line will usually shout “roller!” very loudly to let us know that we need to get out of the way. Knowing how to properly saw trees down is also key, because if you cut it the wrong way, it can make the tree fall in a direction you weren’t planning on, putting your crew at risk of injury. Chainsaws can do something called “kick back”, where they can push into you when sawing, causing the blade to accidentally cut through the protective chaps and puncture your skin. This can bring about a life-threatening injury to the firefighter and will require medical assistance. Ash pits are another hazard to watch for during post-fire operations. It can appear as a hole in the ground, filled with ash, and a potential for hot embers beneath. Stepping into one of these can lead to severe burns on the extremities. Knowing the rules of how to respond in a wildfire incident is essential for not only your safety, but your crew’s as well. 

With all of that said, you’re probably thinking,“What on Earth is this girl doing? How would someone want to do this job with all of the threats it poses?”

Well, those are great questions, and to be honest, sometimes I’m not even sure why I do it. Yes, it’s long hours in the hot sun with heavy clothing on and more sweat than you could imagine - but, in those moments, my mind always comes back to the people and the land, and how much I love protecting what they hold so close to their hearts. It is, in fact, what brought me to where I am today.

During the last week of my first season of fire, I got in a bad car accident, leaving me with several injuries and a brutal concussion. When the next fire season came around, I was still not fully recovered from my accident or feeling confident about going back into the field. I decided to do a year of fire dispatch instead, which was a good experience. I enjoyed getting to see the other side of fire and how both sides communicate. After that, my gap year was over, and I was unsure of what I wanted to do next. I wanted to go to college, but I was still undecided about what I wanted to do there. I leaned toward the arts, with international studies in mind, but something still didn’t feel right. No matter what I did, my mind kept coming back to fire. It was something I still wanted to do. I loved being outdoors, and I enjoyed the camaraderie of being part of a team. I was continually drawn to it, which is what helped me finally decide that I wanted to pursue fire as a career. 

I am currently a college student studying wildland fuels and fire technology, an associate's degree offered at the University of Idaho. I finished my first year, have one more year to go, and am planning to pursue an EMT certificate as well. This will be a valuable skill for both me and my team while working as a wildland firefighter. I aim to work in this position for a few years while also gaining new experiences and qualifications, which will help me work my way up to a possible leadership position. 

Above all, I am honored to serve my community and work alongside an incredible team of individuals in the forests we love. I hope this inspires others as well.