The Unseen Side of Wildland Firefighting

From Los Angeles to Lahaina, wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity. The destruction is evident: destroyed homes, devastated communities, lives lost. But the health harms firefighters face often go unseen.

 As firefighters work day in and day out on the frontlines, they expose themselves to chronic health risks that rarely make headlines. At the same time, cuts to fire prevention funding threaten their ability to respond safely and effectively.

Host Lisa Patel sits down with Lazo Gitchos, a wildland firefighter and writer for The Nation, to talk about the hidden health risks of firefighting, and the resources crews need to better protect themselves and communities.