What to Do When Wildfires Trigger Trauma

Wildfires have ravaged Germany this year, burning more land than the average recorded between 2006 and 2025. North Rhine-Westphalia, the nation's most populous state, recently witnessed its largest wildfire on record, devastating approximately 300 to 400 hectares in the Hürtgen Forest within the Eifel region.

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Your eyes itch every night, your nose is always black and the airways and lungs are under pressure. During a 12-hour-shift, you're constantly on high alert, ready for whatever might happen.

The wildfire spread rapidly across the parched landscape, fueled by wind and exacerbated by weeks without rain. Firefighting operations were further complicated by the presence of unexploded World War II munitions, some of which detonated. Around 1,500 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly a week, often working 12-hour shifts, before it was stabilized.

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The fear, or dread, that you can have is really, where can I take refuge, how will I get out of this. I'm right in the middle of a forest.

Peter Berndgen, a spokesperson for the volunteer fire department in the Düren district, described the immense physical and mental toll on the firefighters. He noted the constant physical discomfort, such as itchy eyes and breathing difficulties, alongside the psychological pressure of remaining on high alert for 12-hour shifts. Firefighters grappled with the fear of unpredictable events like falling trees or sudden changes in flame direction, and the overwhelming feeling that the situation might spiral out of control.

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Not everyone, but several people who experience something like this end up developing what is known as post-traumatic stress disorder. They find themselves reliving the event over and over, having nightmares, and experiencing flashbacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder is three times more common among firefighters than it is in the general population.

Andreas Meyer, a psychiatrist from the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, highlighted that such extreme situations can have lasting psychological effects. While not everyone develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he noted it is three times more common among firefighters than the general population. Symptoms include intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance behaviors. Meyer stressed that while feeling shaken immediately after a disaster is normal, persistent symptoms lasting over a month warrant seeking psychological help, as PTSD is treatable with behavioral therapy.

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This can lead to the disorder setting in.