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My name is Matt, and I work as a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana.  While I am a smokejumper, that title sometimes feels limiting, because there are so many more aspects…

When you experience stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activates, releasing cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In short bursts, cortisol helps you respond to challenges. However, chronic stress keeps this system…

To Our Wildland Firefighting Family, For many, the holidays bring images of warmth, family, and celebration. But for those in the wildland firefighting community, the season often carries something more…

As Thanksgiving approaches, we find ourselves drawn to a time-honored tradition: reflecting on what we’re grateful for. While this may seem like a simple practice, it carries profound power—especially for…

Click the button below if you would like to download this as a PDF for printing or future use. Open PDF   Inflammation, Gut Dysbiosis, and Metabolic Disorder: How Chronic…

Table of Contents Introduction Pre-Season Wellness Physical Training Mental Preparation Nutrition and Hydration Substance Use Management Mid-Season Wellness Fatigue Management Injury Prevention Mental Health Support Nutrition and Hydration Strategies End…

To all wildland firefighters and those who respond to wildland fires, we hope the fire season treated you well and you are able to take some time to rest, recover…

Understanding, Coping, Healing Grief is a universal human experience, yet it is one of the most challenging emotions to navigate. It is an intricate emotional process that occurs in response…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps focus on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of…

Each of us is responsible for our own wellbeing both mentally and physically. The more aware we are or can become about our own needs the more we can take…

Mental Fitness is not thought of in the same way we think of staying physically fit. We do P.T. and strength train; we do cardio, run, go on hikes and…

Wildland firefighting is a physically demanding and emotionally challenging job. While these brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect our communities and forests, they also…

My life is turned upside down. I feel like I’m in a choking fog and I can’t get out. When we lose someone, our lives are turned upside down. We…