Respiratory Protection Wildland Firefighting

Wildland firefighters – whose mission requires deploying to remote locations – often use bandanas and N95 masks for protection due to their light weight and small size. These traditional masks, however, do not effectively protect against the particulate and gas hazards firefighters may encounter throughout a wildfire response. Air-purifying (APRs) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are small and portable and offer protection to users like wildland firefighters from hazardous air particles, smoke and gases.