On The Line

As a wildland firefighter, if you don’t recognize the name Brian Sharkey, you probably should. The author of twelve books, developer of the pack test and work to rest guidelines, and some of the earliest examinations of woodsmoke exposure around, you name the topic and Sharkey probably studied it during his four and a half decades of firefighter research at the University of Montana and with the Forest Service. Professor Emeritus Sharkey joins the podcast, this week.

Eating the proper foods at the appropriate time is an essential component of recovery, especially for tactical athletes like wildland firefighters. Dr. Brent Ruby from the University of Montana’s Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism re-joins the podcast for a follow up to his season one pod on nutrition, this one focusing upon post-shift nutrition.

University of Montana Health and Human Performance Department graduate student Jose Pena joins the podcast to discuss over-the-counter, alleged performance-enhancing products. UM sport nutrition professor Chuck Dumke provides research based analysis on what role, if any, they play in helping WLFFs meet the demands of their job.

Wildland firefighting represents a high risk occupation, and exposes those who engage in it to a significant amount of danger and uncertainty. Decision making and cognitive function take on added importance as firefighters attempt to manage these risks. Canadian researcher Dr. Michael Williams-Bell from Durham College joins the podcast, along with Drs. Chuck Dumke and Charlie Palmer from the University of Montana, to discuss recent research they have completed in cognitive function, and what it means.

Never before have wildland firefighters been assessed for physiological changes over the course of an entire fire season. Until now. Dr. Trey Coker from the University of Alaska Fairbanks teamed up with our own Dr. Brent Ruby to investigate seasonal alterations in a group of firefighters, and their surprising results have led to more questions than answers. Coker and Ruby join the podcast to discuss their research, it’s counter-intuitive findings, and possible directions for future investigations.

Pack Test The Work Capacity Test, otherwise known as the pack test, has been in use for nearly 25 years. Designed as a measure of muscular strength and aerobic capacity; the arduous version of the test entails hiking three miles on even terrain while carrying 45 pounds in 45 minutes or less. Drs. Brent Ruby and Matt Bundle join host Charlie Palmer to discuss the science behind the pack test, misconceptions surrounding it, and strategies on how to train more effectively for load carriage.

Maclean. The name is synonymous with many things: great writing, fishing, and fire to name just a few. On this, the tenth and final episode of season one, author John Maclean joins the podcast, along with University of Montana researcher Brent Ruby and host Charlie Palmer to discuss South Canyon, the history of hotshots, and John’s current book project on the Yarnell Hill fire that killed nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshots.

About 42,000 Americans take their own lives every year. While no known research has looked specifically at suicide prevalence rates within wildland firefighters, it appears to be a major concern within our population. Studies looking at structural firefighters indicate that they are three times more likely to die by suicide than a line of duty death.

Few people can claim to possess a fire career that spans over four decades. From being a first year firefighter with the California Division of Forestry in the 1970’s, to thirty-four years of smokejumping with the Forest Service, and ending with a final six year run with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Wayne Williams possesses a depth of capabilities and a wealth of knowledge that are unrivaled in the world of wildland fire.

Drs. Chuck Dumke and Brent Ruby from the University of Montana re-join the podcast to discuss this vital component of performance. Hydration plays an important role in firefighter safety, and yet at times its significance has been over-emphasized. Optimal intake amounts are debated, Camelbaks vs. canteens are discussed, and the role of sports drinks in comparison to water consumption are also explored.

Firefighters can expend upwards of 6200 calories per day during rigorous operations. Therefore, what they eat, when they eat, and how much they eat become extremely important factors that must be taken in to consideration by not only the firefighters themselves but also fire managers. Dr. Brent Ruby, director of the Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism and professor in UM’s Health and Human Performance Department, joins the podcast to discuss this critically important topic.

Not only are firefighters exposed to wood smoke as a part of their occupations, but so too are millions of humans across the globe who must contend with this byproduct of combustion in the places they live. In this episode of “On the Line”, University of Montana exercise physiologist Dr. Chuck Dumke is joined by wood smoke researcher Dr. Tony Ward from the University of Montana’s School of Public and Community Health Sciences to discuss some of the science behind wood smoke, and its health risks.

In this episode of On the Line, University of Montana biomechanist Matt Bundle and clinical psychology doctoral student Patty O’Brien join the podcast to discuss the concept of recovery and how it relates to wildland firefighters. Some of the science behind recovery is examined, and the roles of rest, sleep, and nutrition are also reviewed.

In this episode, Dr. Valerie Moody from the University of Montana Athletic Training Program joins moderator Charlie Palmer to discuss the few studies that have been done, their results, and what they can tell us about firefighter injuries.

University of Montana researchers Dr. Chuck Dumke and Dr. Brent Ruby, along with moderator Charlie Palmer, discuss rhabdo, why is the wildland firefighter at risk, and ways to reduce the risks.