BOISE, Idaho — As wildland firefighters face the heat of another wildfire season, they're often battling much more than just flames.

Research from the University of Idaho reveals that most firefighters face dangerously high levels of fatigue that can drop reaction times by as high as 55%.

"We get falling trees, rolling rocks. Those are safety hazards that these young men and women face every day, so they need to be alert," Randy Brooks, a University of Idaho forestry professor who launched the study said.

Brooks began researching firefighter fatigue and health after three of his smokejumper son's teammates were killed while battling a fire in 2015.

He surveyed more than 400 firefighters across the country, and their responses pointed to one major factor: lack of sleep.

"I've heard fir

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