The Pack Test (PT) is a widely used test to establish readiness for work in wildland firefighting. It is common to perform this test dressed in regular exercise clothing. However, wildland firefighters (WFF) have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during their deployments, which increases the physiological strain and reduces their work capacity. This study aimed to analyse the impact of full PPE on PT performance. Nine male professional WFF performed in random order a PT walking at the fastest possible self-pace wearing two different clothing configurations: (i) traditional short sports gear (SG) and (ii) the PPE currently used by Spanish WFF. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion and lap time were recorded during the PT. In addition, oxygen uptake (VO₂) was estimated through the individual VO₂–HR relationship previously obtained during a graded exercise test. There was a significant decrease in the PT performance (i.e., completion time) (~12%, p < 0.05) in PPE. The physiological demands with this configuration were significantly higher (~10%, p < 0.05). WFF spent ~13 min above the anaerobic threshold in PPE vs. ~4 min in SG. A multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that PT performance variation might be explained by the maximal aerobic velocity (84.5%) in PPE and the VO_2max (75.9%) in SG. In conclusion, wearing complete PPE increases WFF’s physiological strain, which translates into a significant PT performance reduction. Performing the test walking at the fastest possible self-pace wearing the PPE would better reflect the high-intensity effort periods reported in real scenarios.

The work performed by wildland firefighters (WFFs) is very demanding owing to the conditions in which they have to operate. It has been reported that these professionals walk long distances over unstable and steep terrain carrying heavy loads, handle tools manually and repeatedly and are subject to a high level of thermal stress. Under such conditions, the risk of developing chronic pain (CP) is high, although despite this, there are no available data pertaining to CP among WFFs, to the best of our knowledge. As such, the aim of this study is to describe CP in Spanish helitack crews, for which purpose 221 WFFs (203 men and 18 women) completed an online self-report questionnaire. Approximately 60% of WFFs reported suffering from CP, of which 45.5% had CP in more than one body region at the same time. Age and length of service were associated with the probability of suffering from CP. Likewise, the age and height of WFFs and weight of the protective equipment used increased the prevalence of CP. Lastly, gender and job position affected CP location, with women and forepersons reporting greater prevalence of CP in the lower limbs. To conclude, the results obtained suggest the major prevalence of CP among Spanish WFFs, with current data suggesting in turn the importance that age, stature, gender, length of service, weight of protective equipment and job position have on the prevalence and location of CP.

Wildland firefighting implies high physical and psychological demands for the personnel involved. Therefore, good physical fitness can help increase the work efficiency of wildland firefighters (WFFs) and safeguard their health. High-intensity circuit training (HICT) could be a good alternative to improve the physical condition of WFFs since it stands out for its functionality and economy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of HICT on the WFFs’ physical fitness. The study involved 9 WFFs (8 males and 1 female; 29.8 ± 2.8 years; 175.6 ± 6.7 cm) who completed a training program and 9 WFF candidates (8 males and 1 female; 24.7 ± 6.6 yr, 176.5 ± 7.0 cm) as a control group. WFFs performed an 8-week HICT program (two weekly training sessions). The training sessions lasted approximately 45 min and were performed at an intensity >80% of maximal heart rate and RPE values >7.5. At the beginning and the end of the intervention, subjects’ physical fitness (i.e., aerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular resistance and explosive strength) was assessed through different tests. After completing the training program, WFFs had significantly increased (p < 0.05) the speed at which the ventilatory thresholds were determined (12.4 ± 13.9 and 5.7 ± 7.3% for the ventilatory and respiratory compensation thresholds, respectively) and also their abdominal (31.2 ± 17.2%), lumbar (34.1 ± 13.5%) and upper limb (13.3 ± 16.0%) strength. Moreover, improvements (p < 0.05) in the explosive strength of legs (7.1 ± 5.8%) and performance in a specific physical employment test (12.2 ± 6.1%) were observed. In conclusion, the results of this study show that an 8-week high-intensity circuit training program could be an effective and safe method to improve WFFs’ physical fitness and performance.

Background/Objectives: Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are subjected to significant physical and physiological demands that expose them to substantial occupational risks, including thermal stress, prolonged physical exertion, and exposure to harmful substances. These factors not only affect their immediate performance but also have long-term implications for their health. This narrative review seeks to analyze the main factors influencing the health and performance of WFFs, with a particular focus on physical, environmental, and psychological challenges. Methods: A narrative review was performed, synthesizing data from diverse sources. The analysis centered on studies addressing the physiological, environmental, and psychological aspects of WFF performance. Specific topics included physical workload, exposure to environmental stressors, use of protective equipment, hydration, sleep patterns, and mental health. Results: The review highlights several critical challenges faced by WFFs, including the extreme physical demands of carrying heavy equipment during extended interventions, elevated physiological strain induced by protective gear, and significant health risks associated with smoke inhalation and dehydration. Additionally, inadequate sleep and heightened mental stress were found to impair both cognitive and physical performance. Variations in injury prevalence and patterns of chronic pain were observed, often influenced by factors such as sex, age, and professional experience. Conclusion: To mitigate these risks and enhance the health and performance of WFFs, targeted interventions are essential. These include tailored physical training programs, heat acclimatization strategies, and improved resource management. Future research should aim to integrate these measures comprehensively and address existing knowledge gaps to ensure the long-term well-being of these professionals.

The work of wildland firefighters, especially of the so-called ‘Brigadas de Refuerzo contra Incendios Forestales’, is characterised by high physical demands and extreme operating conditions. These professionals face long workdays (12 h), walking with heavy loads (~25 kg), being exposed to high temperatures (>30 °C), and handling specialised tools in high-risk environments. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of occupational injuries among members of the ‘Brigadas de Refuerzo contra Incendios Forestales’ and its relationship to variables such as age and work experience. A total of 217 wildland firefighters (18 female and 199 male) correctly answered a questionnaire developed on an ad hoc basis to meet the study’s objectives. A high prevalence of occupational injuries was observed among them (~76%). Age and work experience were shown to be significantly associated with injuries. Individuals over 35 years of age with more than 10 years’ experience had a higher probability of injury (OR = 2.14, CI = 1.12–4.06 and OR = 2.46, CI = 1.30–4.67, respectively). Injuries occurred mainly during physical training (~46%), followed by preventive work (~33%) and forest fires (~20%). The most common injuries were tendonitis and muscle pain (~44% and ~21% respectively), followed by sprains (~21%). The results underline the need for physical activity programmes adapted to help wildland firefighters, especially older and more experienced individuals. The identification of risk factors such as age and work experience can contribute to the prevention and management of occupational injuries among this group of highly specialised forestry workers. Specific preventative measures during training are required to mitigate the risk of injury among these crews, who play a crucial role in protecting the environment and public safety.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the competitive demands of mountain running races of varying lengths. Methods: Sixty-six male athletes competed in Vertical race (∼3 km and ∼1000 m of total elevation change), Sky race (∼25 km and ∼3000 m of total elevation change), and SkyUltra race (∼80 km and ∼9000 m of total elevation change). Exercise intensity and competition load (TL) were assessed using running power, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Results: The highest exercise intensity was observed in Vertical race (3.9 [0.4] W·kg⁻¹, 93.6% [2.8%] HR_max, and 9.5 [0.7] RPE) compared to Sky race (3.5 [0.5] W·kg⁻¹, 89.9% [2.4%] HR_max, and 8.5 [1.2] RPE), and SkyUltra (2.7 [0.6] W·kg⁻¹, 73.4% [1.1%] HR_max, and 8.2 [1.1] RPE). Vertical races had the highest mean maximal power outputs for periods 5 W·kg⁻¹ and the most time spent above the respiratory compensation threshold. The majority of time in SkyUltra was spent at low intensity. The highest TLs were observed in these races (6200.5 [708.0] kJ, 842.0 [35.7] AU for TL_HR, and 4897.3 [940.7] AU for TL_RPE). However, when normalized to competition time, the SkyUltra event showed the lowest values compared with the Vertical and Sky races (∼11 vs ∼14.5 kJ·min⁻¹, ∼1.5 vs ∼2.5 AU·m⁻¹ for TL_HR). Conclusion: The results of this study expand knowledge about the effort demands of mountain races and demonstrate how these demands are affected by race duration. Additionally, the study highlights the potential use of running power for quantifying exercise in this sport.