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

Wildland firefighting includes walking miles while doing things like clearing brush and cutting down trees. Air packs weigh 40-50 pounds. In addition to that wildland firefighters shouldn’t actually be close to fire. It consists mainly of creating brush lines to try and slow/stop the fire. Finally when you’re not in an enclosed space the smoke mostly rises, opposed to in a house where it fills the space.