Eli5: why do firefighters wear oxygen masks when fighting a building fire, but often not in a wildfire? You’re still breathing in smoke…

Question

Eli5: why do firefighters wear oxygen masks when fighting a building fire, but often not in a wildfire? You’re still breathing in smoke…

In: 483

Answer 1

Because structure firefighters (regular firefighters) go into enclosed spaces with burning plastic products which produces hazardous fumes that will kill you. Wildland firefighters are in the woods dealing with small particulate matter. That’s bad, but not “kill you immediately” bad