Fire season is changing your exposure profile. As wildland and vegetation fire activity increases, firefighters are spending more time in environments where ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects are common. Protecting yourself from vector-borne diseases is just as important as protecting yourself from smoke and heat.
Repellents close a real gap. Insect repellents are an important part of that protection. They help reduce the risk of diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, West Nile virus, dengue, malaria, and other vector-borne illnesses that vary by region.
But it's one more exposure to manage wisely. At the same time, firefighters should remember that insect repellents represent another occupational chemical exposure layered onto an already complex exposure profile. Wildland firefighters may experience repeated exposures to wildfire smoke, diesel exhaust, combustion products, ash, contaminated PPE, heat stress, ultraviolet radiation, and environmental contaminants over long operational periods. While EPA-registered insect repellents are considered safe and effective when used as directed, they should be viewed as another tool to manage wisely — not something to avoid.
Best Practices
- Cover up first. Wear long sleeves and long pants whenever operationally appropriate in areas where ticks or mosquitoes are prevalent.
- Choose a proven product. Use an EPA- or locally approved insect repellent according to the manufacturer's directions. Products containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus have demonstrated effectiveness against many biting insects.
- Treat gear, not skin, with permethrin. Consider permethrin-treated clothing or gear when appropriate. Permethrin is intended for clothing and equipment only — it should never be applied directly to the skin.
- Less is fine. Apply only the amount of repellent needed to exposed skin and clothing. More product does not provide greater protection.
- Know where not to apply it. Avoid applying repellents beneath PPE or to damaged or irritated skin.
- Wash and change out. Wash treated skin and change into clean clothing after the operational period whenever possible.
- Check yourself thoroughly. Perform a thorough tick check after working in wooded, grassy, or brush-filled environments, paying close attention to the scalp, neck, armpits, waistline, groin, and behind the knees.
- Act fast on attached ticks. Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers and monitor for symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, or joint pain. Early medical evaluation is important if symptoms develop after a tick bite.
Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called the "red meat allergy," is a delayed allergic reaction linked to the bite of certain ticks — most notably the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Unlike Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, AGS is not an infection. It develops when a tick bite introduces a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the body, which can trigger an allergic response the next time the person eats red meat or other mammal-derived products.
Symptoms typically appear three to eight hours after eating red meat, pork, or other mammal products (in some cases including dairy or gelatin) — not immediately after the meal, which is what makes the connection to a tick bite easy to miss. Reactions can range from hives, itching, and gastrointestinal upset to, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
The Lone Star tick's range is concentrated in the southeastern and eastern United States, though it has been expanding. Firefighters working wildland incidents in or near these regions should factor this risk into their tick awareness, alongside the more commonly known tick-borne diseases.
If you notice a delayed allergic reaction after a tick bite, particularly following a meal containing red meat, seek medical evaluation and mention the possibility of AGS to your provider.
Every Exposure Counts
It's cumulative, not catastrophic. Firefighters have become increasingly aware that occupational health isn't determined by one large exposure — it's influenced by thousands of smaller ones accumulated over a career: smoke, diesel exhaust, heat stress, UV radiation, contaminated gear, noise, sleep disruption, chemical agents, and biological hazards.
Repellent is a tool, not a threat. Insect repellent shouldn't be viewed as another hazard to fear — it is an evidence-based protective measure that helps prevent potentially serious diseases. The goal is to use it correctly while continuing to reduce unnecessary chemical exposures wherever practical.
Small decisions add up. Making informed choices about every exposure — whether preventing smoke inhalation, cleaning contaminated PPE, protecting your skin from the sun, or preventing tick bites — is part of building a healthier and more resilient fire service.
This is where documentation comes in. That accumulation is exactly what the IPSDI Exposure Tracker™ was built to capture. Logging exposures like insect repellent use, smoke, heat, and contaminated gear as they happen gives you and your department a data-informed record over the course of a career — not a diagnosis, just documentation you control.
Stay safe, stay protected, and remember prevention is one of the most effective tools we have.
Did You Know?
Your exposures overlap more than you think. Wildland firefighters often work in environments where occupational hazards overlap. During a single operational period, a firefighter may experience smoke inhalation, heat stress, ultraviolet radiation, dehydration, contaminated gear, diesel exhaust, noise exposure, and contact with disease-carrying insects. Protecting firefighter health means addressing all these exposures — not just the ones we can see.
Learn more: Logging Multiple Exposure Types