Beyond the Fireline: Strengthening the Mind to Protect the Mission

Firefighters in Dodge Springs Fire; Ely, Nevada, 2022.  Photo by Alyssa Engdahl, Bureau of Land Management

BY ANGELA GEMZA

Wildland firefighting demands remarkable courage and physical endurance. You see the images on the news of brave people battling towering flames, working grueling shifts in dangerous conditions, and risking everything to protect communities and cherished public lands. What you don’t see, what doesn’t make the headlines, is the psychological impact of this heroic work. 

Beneath the surface lies a quieter struggle: maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing in one of the most high-stress professions in the country.

The statistics tell a sobering story. Wildland firefighters report symptoms consistent with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at higher rates than the general population. The extended periods away from home, the isolation of remote assignments, the cumulative stress of life-or-death situations, the grief of losing colleagues, and the heartbreak of watching communities and lands burn take a real and lasting toll. These invisible wounds can be just as serious as any physical injury, and sometimes even more dangerous when left unaddressed.

Mental health is not separate from physical safety—it's deeply connected. When stress and trauma go unprocessed, they can cloud judgment, slow reaction time, and impair communication, all of which can jeopardize not only individual wellbeing but also team safety.

For wildland firefighters, taking care of their own wellbeing is part of taking care of their crew. Resilience helps them think more clearly in crisis, respond more effectively under pressure, and recover more quickly from the emotional toll of the job. It’s not just about feeling better, it’s about performing better and staying safe.

That’s why the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture recently launched the Wildland Fire Therapy Service.

The therapy service offers confidential mental health support tailored for wildland firefighters, dispatchers, and support personnel. The providers are professionals experienced in working with first responders and understand the barriers that often prevent them from seeking help.

Offered through the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program, the Wildland Fire Therapy Service was built with the needs of the wildland fire community in mind. It provides federal wildland fire personnel and those who served in a federal role that directly supported operational wildland fire activities with:

• Access to longer-term care through 16 free sessions each calendar year
• Therapists experienced with first responder culture and trauma
• Year-round support, including up to six months after a position ends, in recognition that mental health concerns often surface after returning home from the year’s fire assignments
• Confidential support that respects privacy and professional concerns
• Remote sessions to improve ease of access

The Wildland Fire Therapy Service offers federal wildland firefighters and dispatchers quick access to mental health care—often within just one week.

There is no weakness in seeking help. In fact, recognizing when you need support requires the same courage that drives firefighters to face danger head-on. Whether it’s their first season or they have decade of experience behind them, wildland firefighters shouldn’t have to carry the weight of mental health challenges alone. Seeking support shows a commitment to crew safety, the success of the mission, and the longevity of wildland fire careers.

Mental health is essential equipment. Like boots, gloves, or a radio, it plays a vital role in operational readiness. The Wildland Fire Therapy Service is designed to provide tailored, confidential support. It offers tools to help wildland firefighters not only withstand the demands of the job but also recover, adapt, and thrive well beyond the fireline.

Angela Gemza is the Lead Public Affairs Specialist with Interior’s Office of Wildland Fire.