New CalMatters series reveals severe mental health struggles facing Cal Fire crews

In this groundbreaking 4-part series, California’s firefighters describe a broken and depleted fire service suffering a hidden, smoldering crisis. Across the state, the Cal Fire crews who fight wildfires opened up to tell CalMatters their heart-wrenching stories — exhaustion on the firelines, weeks on duty without respite, suicidal thoughts, never-ending trauma and the terror of seeing their colleagues injured or killed.

As climate change intensifies California’s wildfires, the state’s firefighters suffer from the increasing strain of post-traumatic stress disorder. Decisions made while struggling with lack of sleep, long hours and stress could endanger not just the crews, but the public, too. What is the state doing to respond? Overwhelmingly, California’s firefighters say, “Not nearly enough.

Cart worked to illuminate the true stories: interviewing dozens of firefighters and subject experts, observing behavioral therapy sessions, compiling data points, researching post-traumatic stress and suicide and persisting on California Public Records Act requests for information. “It’s important to understand that this was difficult for these firefighters to talk about and relive, but every single person said they thought it was important to shine a light on mental health issues, remove the stigma that still exists, and to let their fellow firefighters know that they can get help,” Cart said.

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