Most farmworkers in Sonoma County have worked at least once under wildfire smoke and hazardous air conditions since 2017, according to a study by UC Berkeley. The research highlights a disconnect between California’s workplace protections and the experiences of agricultural workers.
California is one of three states—alongside Oregon and Washington—that require employers to provide masks when air quality becomes unhealthy. However, many survey participants said they received only surgical masks or had inconsistent access to protective equipment during wildfires.
The survey, which is among the largest conducted with agricultural workers in the region, found that nearly three out of four respondents reported working during wildfire events, even when smoke was dense and air quality hazardous. Carly Hyland, lead researcher and Cooperative Extension specialist at Berkeley’s School of Public Health, said: “Many agricultural workers are deeply concerned about the health impacts of wildfire smoke. But what we heard repeatedly is that they would continue working because it becomes nearly impossible to pay for rent or food when they lose work.”
Researchers noted that even those who experienced symptoms such as headaches or respiratory irritation expected to keep working during future wildfire seasons.
Zeke Guzmán, president of Latinos Unidos del Condado de Sonoma, explained: “Farmworkers told us there was a lack of awareness or interest in the health risks of working during wildfires. Many were only given a surgical mask, not an N95, and to them, that signaled that no one really cared.”
Hyland credited collaboration with local organizations and community advocates for making it possible to reach participants: “Many workers can be hesitant to engage in research,” she said. “Our community engagement team was key to explaining the process and ensuring people felt comfortable participating.” Researchers did not collect identifying information from participants.
The study points toward structural gaps in worker protection. Hyland stated: “The most urgent change is expanding unemployment insurance to all workers, regardless of immigration status. Undocumented workers contribute nearly half a billion dollars to California’s unemployment system each year but cannot access benefits, forcing many to put their health at risk just to meet basic needs.”
The report also raised concerns about Sonoma County’s Agricultural Pass program—which allows access into evacuation zones for continued agricultural operations—noting low awareness among workers, high mistrust levels, and lack of information available in Spanish or Indigenous languages.
Hyland emphasized the growing urgency as climate-driven disasters become more frequent: “We identified gaps in protections for agricultural workers’ health and safety that will only worsen as wildfires become more frequent, intense and prolonged,” she said. “Local governments need to act before the next disaster arrives.”
While focused on Sonoma County, researchers observed similar challenges elsewhere in California where outdoor laborers face overlapping risks from wildfire smoke exposure and economic insecurity. The study suggests that improving economic security measures and culturally accessible communication could help protect farmworkers as wildfire threats increase.
