Firefighters involved in battling the Iron Fire near Eureka may have been exposed to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. Officials from several state and federal agencies sent a joint letter to crews warning of possible exposure due to the area's history as a mining district.
The letter stated that the Iron Fire burned across the Tintic Mining District and other small mining sites. These areas may contain soil polluted with arsenic, lead, mercury, antimony, and thallium.
Officials noted that while lead and other contaminants typically stay on the ground unless disturbed, firefighting activities like hand line construction, dozer line construction, mop-up, and holding operations may have disturbed dust and ash enough to create an exposure pathway through inhalation or ingestion. However, the agencies emphasized that the presence of these materials does not guarantee that an exposure actually occurred.
Officials stated that long-term health problems from lead exposure typically develop after years of exposure, though short-term exposure can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and weakness. Exposure to other heavy metals can affect the nervous and digestive systems, potentially causing tremors, shortness of breath, or vision and hearing issues.
Any lead in the body is expected to be eliminated through natural means, according to officials. Firefighters experiencing any of these symptoms were advised to speak with a doctor and report the issue to a supervisor.
