Fighting wildfires is a dangerous and exhausting job for firefighters, but it’s not just the flames they have to worry about. For many, the long-term effects of exposure to smoke, chemicals, and toxins during fires are a growing concern. This risk was made all too real for Los Angeles firefighters battling the Pacific Palisades Fire in January 2024, one of the most destructive wildfires in Southern California history.
The fire destroyed more than 23,000 acres of land and burned down 5,000 structures. As the fire raged, firefighter Joseph Field, who has been with the Los Angeles Fire Department for over 25 years, found himself in the middle of the chaos, trying to save homes and control the blaze. “Nothing I’ve ever seen was like it was that night,” Field said, describing the overwhelming sight of homes burning as far as the eye could see.
Field and his team fought the fire day after day, but the conditions were incredibly harsh. Winds were so strong that the water from their hoses barely reached the fire, blowing back at them instead. Despite wearing goggles, the smoke still caused intense irritation, making his eyes feel like they’d been rubbed with sandpaper. The exposure to thick, toxic smoke was constant. “You’re just eating it. You’re constantly eating it,” Field said, describing the harsh reality of inhaling dangerous fumes while trying to keep the fire under control.
As the fire continued to rage, the dangers didn’t stop with the smoke. The burning of plastics, chemicals, and batteries released harmful toxins into the air, which firefighters were forced to breathe in as they worked. Field recalled moments when he couldn’t breathe properly and had to take breaks to find cleaner air. Despite the challenges, he continued to work tirelessly, returning to the fire for multiple shifts, including seven straight days on the front lines.
But now, even as the fire has been extinguished, Field and other firefighters are left facing an unsettling question: Could the smoke and toxins they inhaled during the fire lead to long-term health issues like cancer? Wildfires are known to release a toxic mix of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. Firefighters are at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer due to their repeated exposure to these harmful substances.
This growing concern is not unique to the Pacific Palisades Fire. Across the country, firefighters are grappling with the aftermath of fighting wildfires and dealing with the health risks they face as a result. The combination of chemicals in burning furniture, plastics, and other materials can linger in the body, causing damage over time.
As the number of wildfires increases and the fires themselves become more intense, firefighters are becoming more aware of the dangers they face not just in the moment, but in the years that follow. While they continue to put their lives on the line to protect communities, the question of what the cost will be for their health remains a pressing issue. For many firefighters, the work is their life’s calling, but it comes with a heavy price. As they battle fires, they now worry that the flames may not be the only thing that could burn them out in the end.
