Firefighter health and smoke protection draw requests for briefings after New York Times reporting

A cluster of lawmakers pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz on firefighter health and respiratory protection at a Sept. 10, 2025, hearing after recent media reports about long-term health risks from wildfire smoke.

Why it matters: Multiple members said long-term exposure to wildfire smoke can cause cancer, heart disease and chronic lung injury and asked the agency to clarify what protective equipment is provided and whether the Forest Service recommends it for frontline crews.

Chief Schultz said N95 masks are available on fires when logistics teams order them but that the agency does not currently provide respirators and that wearing masks can be physically difficult during intense wildfire labor. "N95 masks are available should a firefighter choose to wear that. They're provided on fires," Schultz said.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Rep. Dina Titus (and others) asked the chief to commit to a sit-down briefing on smoke exposure, PPE and long-term health tracking for wildland firefighters. Schultz agreed to work with the committee and said the Forest Service would respond to a committee letter and consider briefings. He noted there is not an OSHA-approved respirator standard for wildland firefighting and urged more science and coordination with OSHA on protective guidance.

Rep. Kim Schrier, a pulmonologist, told the panel that wildfire smoke contains multiple carcinogens and asked Schultz directly whether exposure “can be permanently debilitating.” Schultz said he was not a medical expert but that he understood the concern and that the agency takes firefighter health seriously.

The subcommittee asked the agency to provide written answers to a member letter and to arrange follow-up briefings on PPE availability, implementation of N95 distributions, and plans for long-term health monitoring of wildland firefighters.