WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced expanded access to N95 respirators on the fireline, along with required training and standardized decontamination protocols.
Wildland firefighters face prolonged exposure to smoke, ash and airborne particles while working in extreme conditions. Officials said in a press release that while no respirator currently meets OSHA standards for wildland firefighting, the new measures are intended to provide practical protections that can reduce risk now.
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“Secretary Rollins has made it clear that we will no longer stand by as firefighters face long-term health risks just from doing their job,” Forest Service Deputy Chief of Fire and Aviation Management Sarah Fisher said. “The action we are taking today is about doing right by the people who put themselves between our communities and escalating wildfire threats. Improving respiratory safety and expanding decontamination practices are practical, common-sense measures that will make a real difference on the ground.”
This marks the first time federal wildland firefighters will be allowed to use N95 respirators on the fireline after completing formal training on their safe use in wildland fire conditions, according to federal officials. Officials said expanded N95 access offers an immediate way to reduce inhalation of smoke particles linked to long-term health risks.
Both departments are also working toward a full respiratory protection program that complies with OSHA requirements.
Officials said the measures reflect USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ 2026 Wildfire Readiness Memo, which called for immediate steps to reduce health risks for wildland firefighters while longer-term protections are developed.
The agencies will also make decontamination part of daily operations, including showers, gear cleaning and clean-air recovery to reduce cumulative exposure.
