'The Burnout Is Here': Firefighters Struggle As COVID Takes A Toll

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By the time December rolls around, it's not uncommon for California firefighters to feel burned out, especially in recent years.

Months of battling unrelenting fires in brutally hot, dry, and windy conditions, can leave them physically and mentally wrecked. It's only the rainy season that can offer some respite -- assuming it shows up at all.

This year, the burnout has come early.

"Nevermind October, November, this September. The burnout is here right now," said Gad Amith, Battalion Chief of Emergency Medical Services with Cal Fire Riverside.

In a candid conversation, Amith said it's not just the very active fire season that his crews are contending with, but fears and frustrations related to COVID-19.

"People are worried about their families. They're worried about being exposed. About getting sick. It creates behavioral challenges. Nothing about this is easy," he said.

In between fighting fires, firefighters get called out on emergencies, which means constant interaction with the public in the middle of a pandemic.

Now, even on routine calls, they have to don full PPE, decontaminate when they arrive back at the station, and then stay separated from colleagues who they spend their 72 hour -- and sometimes longer -- shifts with. They've got to remain masked at all times, eat separately, and sleep in different quarters. And there are certainly no visits from family or friends to break up the monotony and let out stress.

A HIGH TOLL

"The reality is the stress load they face increases their risk for burnout and increases their risk for PTSD in a substantial way," said Dr. Suzy Bird Gulliver, a psychologist and the director of the Warriors Research Institute of Baylor, Scott, and White Health.

"All of the things that you try to do to help with mental health around disaster are exponentially harder to do during this pandemic," said Gulliver. "You want to promote calming. You want to promote connectedness. You want to promote accurate information. Those three things alone are challenging to do during this pandemic. And that's the place I think that our firefighters are struggling so much, because the places that they normally go for calming are no longer available to them."

These mental health challenges can have big implications.

Firefighters suffer from PTSD at higher rates than the general population.

Amith, who said they've been planning for how to handle COVID-19 since February, told me recently:

Amith said captains are making the rounds through Cal Fire Riverside stations, trying to keep an open dialogue and let firefighters vent. It's part of stepped up efforts to check in on how their crews are holding up.

"We have a lot of our firefighters that suffer from an anxiety because of this. And you know, some of them are seeking help. We have programs designed to help people with emotional problems. With stress on the job. And a lot of our guys are seeking that kind of help right now because it's having an impact," he said.

NO GOOD OPTIONS

Like the rest of California, the number of positive cases amongst Cal Fire members is growing. Just this week 18 tested positive and 80 people are quarantined as a result of possible exposure.

In the coming months the Santa Winds will arrive, which is typically when we see the largest fires of the year.

"I gotta tell you, by the time we get there, time wise, our guys are going to be tired and worn out. They're going to be out to lunch. It's going to be tough. I'm not looking forward to it," said Amith.

"There are no good choices. No good options. Everything is difficult, but you know what can I tell you? The world has changed in the last five months and we have to change with it. And so, we are having to make some very difficult choices."

FOR ANYONE FEELING OVERWHELMED. HERE'S HOW TO ASK FOR HELP

• Steinberg Institute website, links to mental health resources and care throughout California,
• Institute on Aging's 24/7 Friendship Line (especially for people who have disabilities or are over 60), 1-800-971-0016 or call 415-750-4138 to volunteer.
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 24/7 Access Line 1-800-854-7771, links to COVID-19 information.
• The Crisis Text Line, Text "HOME" (741-741) to reach a trained crisis counselor.
• California Psychological Association Find a Psychologist Locator>>
• Psychology Today guide to therapists>>

If You Need Immediate Help

If you or someone you know is in crisis and need immediate help, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or go here for online chat.
For more help:

• Find 5 Action Steps for helping someone who may be suicidal, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
• Six questions to askto help assess the severity of someone's suicide risk, from the Columbia Lighthouse Project.
• To prevent a future crisis, here's how to help someone make a safety plan.