SEATTLE — At the SLEEP 2025 conference, Nicole Bowles, PhD, an assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University, highlighted the unique sleep challenges faced by firefighters, particularly those working under staggered shift schedules like Portland Fire & Rescue’s 1323 model.
Speaking at the 39th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies on June 10, Bowles addressed the sleep disturbances common in the fire service, where overnight emergency calls and rotating shifts can disrupt circadian rhythms and impact overall health, HCP Live reported.
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Portland Fire & Rescue adopted the 1/3/2/3 schedule of one day on, three days off, two days on, three days off, in 2022 to help firefighters achieve a better work-life balance. Bowles noted that while this schedule allows more time off, firefighters on the 1323 shift reported slightly less sleep and poorer performance on the psychomotor vigilance test compared to other schedules.
Bowles said firefighters still perceived their sleep and alertness more positively, which may be due to improved work-life balance.
“They’re able to recover in different ways,” she said. “Maybe not getting as much sleep, but they’re filling their cup in other ways, more hobbies, more engagement with family. They’re able to detach more from work.”
Despite the positive perception, Bowles emphasized the importance of strategies to boost sleep health in the fire service. She recommended measures like adjusting start times and encouraging firefighters to nap after shifts or go to bed earlier.
“We’re not seeing huge detriments because of 1323,” she said, “But again, we should be encouraging firefighters to get more sleep.”
