To avoid breathing wildfire smoke, it's important to have the right gear. Dust masks, bandanas and damp pieces of cloth won't adequately protect you from inhaling fine particulate matter like PM2.5.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. U.S. Forest Service firefighter Alan Gudino, right, shields his face while battling the Madre fire in San Luis Obispo County in ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A firefighter lays out a hose line while fighting the Park Fire near Forest Ranch, Calif., Sunday, July 28, 2024. The U.S. Forest ...

In firefighting forces where many wear no breathing protection at all, the quest to find gear that works could be long and ...

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details. Wildfires lead to widespread damage and billions of dollars in suppression costs yearly. Per the National Interagency ...

P95 and N95 are rating classifiers for masks manufactured to keep people from inhaling dust and other small particles in unsafe environments.

U.S. Forest Service firefighter Alan Gudino, right, shields his face while battling the Madre fire in San Luis Obispo County in July. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) The U.S. Forest Service has ...