There are thousands of firefighters on the frontline battling fires across many parts of New South Wales who will continue to be there for the remainder of this Summer.

Sign this petition and demand the NSW government provides the most practical and effective protection for our firefighters.

Bushfire smoke contains many cancer causing chemicals. Air quality conditions in Sydney and Social Media posts over the last few weeks have shown metropolitan residents what it is like to experience a small sample of what firefighters experience on the fire front day in, day out.

Fire Service Organisations, at this stage, do not provide adequate and practical respiratory protection suitable for the task of fighting bushfires. This causes firefighters, volunteers and paid alike, to purchase their own equipment just to stay safe while protecting the people of New South Wales.

P2 masks that are provided are grossly inadequate for the mitigation of the hazards that bushfire smoke causes. Where self contained breathing apparatus is available it provides only a limited short term working time-frame that doesn't align with the protracted nature of large bushfire incidents.

Appropriate, higher level respiratory protection needs to be funded and supplied to firefighters immediately. There are several suitable alternatives available on the market currently.

No firefighter should be exposed to increased cancer risks needlessly while serving the people of New South Wales.