Firefighters' Breathing Monitored After Fort McMurray Wildfire

Researchers and scientists from the University of Alberta, Canada, are monitoring firefighters who fought the massive Fort McMurray wildland fire.

The researchers are traveling to fire stations in mobile testing vehicles to monitor firefighters as they return from the fire lines, according to a report published by CBC News.

Exposure to high levels of smoke can cause acute bronchitis and the University of Alberta representatives are concerned about the effects heavy smoke has had on the firefighters.

Firefighters are asked to provide blood, urine and breathing samples and, so far, about 60 firefighters have been tested. In coming months, follow-up testing will be conducted and, once all the information is compiled, a report will be given to occupational health officials, unions and the firefighters involved in the study, according to the CBC News report.