Wildland Firefighter Respirator Device Operational Field Assessment Report

The Wildland Firefighter Respirator Device (WFRD) is a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) that is designed to provide protection against both gas and particulate respiratory hazards, and withstand the extreme environmental conditions associated with wildland firefighting operations. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and TDA Research, Inc., funded and managed the development of the WFRD prototype in a chest-mounted version and a hip-mounted version. The WFRD is intended to be lightweight and low-profile for long duty shifts, and easy to use in remote locations.

S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) conducted an Operational Field Assessment (OFA) to evaluate the WFRD prototype at Harbison State Forest in Columbia, South Carolina. Eight wildland firefighters provided feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the WFRD while conducting job tasks encountered during a wildfire response operation. NUSTL’s OFA Report documents and verifies the capabilities and operational suitability of the prototype to support the transition of the WFRD into the commercial marketplace for use by the nation’s first responder community.