Curtin University’s Wavne Rikkers, who co-authored a survey of more than 4,000 emergency services personnel who worked on the Black Summer fires, said prolonged exposure to fire correlated with poorer mental health outcomes. “Generally, the longer they fought the fires, the higher the likelihood they would develop a mental health condition such as PTSD, high psychological distress or suicidal ideation,” Dr Rikkers said. Extended time away from work and home also led to financial stress and feelings of isolation, compounded for some local firefighters whose properties and communities were under threat from fire. The research showed volunteers tend to spend a longer amount of time on the front lines compared to their paid counterparts.