Once the flames of a wildfire are doused, a thick layer of smoke billows from smoldering hot spots on the ground, filling the air with toxic chemicals firefighters may breathe in for hours at a time.
That stage of fire suppression, as described by a former Manitoba wildland firefighter, is the peak for poor air quality, they said.
“At the end of the day, you’re blowing your nose and it is all black,” said the firefighter, whom CBC has agreed not to name because they fear retribution for speaking out.
It’s a hazard that comes with fighting wildfires, they said.
“You know, you’re there for the job.”
Experts warn that level of contact with gases and particulate matter can be harmful. And as Canada sees longer and more active wildfire seasons, crews will likely face increased smoke exposure.
“The best recommendation we can give is to just try to limit your exposure as best you can,” said Christopher Pascoe, a University of Manitoba associate professor who specializes in chronic respiratory diseases.
Manitoba has relied on disposable masks and training to help firefighters deal with air pollution. But protection from wildfire smoke may not be as simple as it sounds.
Coverings can be an obstacle
During 15-hour days of strenuous activity — carrying heavy loads, moving through uneven terrain, setting up equipment and dealing with the heat — the toxins in the air were among the last concern for the former firefighter who spoke with CBC.
“I would put on my bandana, then I just keep working through it,” they said.
However, the gases in wildfire smoke can carry a set of health implications, the U of M’s Pascoe said.
Short-term, that might mean difficulty breathing, coughing or a sore throat. With repeated exposure and limited protection, long-term effects are increased risks for heart and lung diseases, including cancer, he said.
Certain masks, such as respirators, can offer the filters needed to protect workers from dangerous particles in wildfire smoke.
But the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union — which represents wildland firefighters in the province — says using them comes with special considerations.
While the union is concerned about lingering health issues for workers exposed to smoke, MGEU president Kyle Ross said bulky face coverings can become an obstacle in an already demanding job.
“It builds up and it wears them down … because there’s something that’s slowing them down,” Ross said.
A spokesperson for the province said disposable N95 masks are offered to firefighters who want to use them.
Pascoe said that kind of gear will trap 95 per cent of damaging airborne particles, but there are downsides.
If the masks aren’t worn tight enough, they won’t provide protection. Even when they are, N95s will still let hazardous gases through, he said. They can also contribute to a feeling of breathlessness when firefighters are exerting themselves.
Oxygen tanks, like those used by urban firefighters, aren’t a practical option in fighting wildfires because they’re heavy and cumbersome, and offer a limited oxygen supply.
Respirators with cartridges are a better alternative, because the cartridges collect wildfire gases, Pascoe said. However, the respirators can strain communication, and those with eye coverings are prone to fogging. The cartridges may also need to be replaced fairly often, depending on the level of smoke.
“There is innovation that is definitely necessary” to improve respirators, said Pascoe.
Province offers N95s
Manitoba Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie said the province wants to protect staff from the dangers of wildfire smoke, but the physical effects of wearing a mask have to be considered.
Firefighters have raised concerns like heat exhaustion and difficulty breathing, Bushie said in a statement.
The former wildland firefighter CBC spoke with said the province didn’t offer them masks or provide other respiratory protection gear until later on in the season, by which point they were already using a bandana to filter out smoke.
But Pascoe said that doesn’t offer any meaningful filtration, and might only capture larger particles like ash. The fabric can also lead to the absorption of pollutants through the skin.
The former firefighter said while it could have protected them, wearing a heavier face covering — on top of a helmet and, at times, a face shield — would be restrictive.
“It’s kind of in your way.… You are working hard, you are sweating, you are breathing out your mouth because you are exhausted,” they said.
It wouldn’t mean “total obstruction,” but “it would just be something that you would need to carry extra,” said the former firefighter.
Aside from the masks, wildland firefighters in Manitoba are trained to position themselves so the wind is blowing away from them in order to avoid heavy smoke, a provincial spokesperson said.
Crews are also taught how to keep dust down while using water hoses to suppress fire using a variety of techniques.
That’s training the former firefighter said they received, and it was implemented in the field to avoid being directly hit with blowing wildfire smoke as much as possible. But conditions, like wind direction, can change, they said.
‘Piece of a broader puzzle’
British Columbia, meanwhile, has other approaches to reduce exposure, like rotating crews in smoky areas, doing the last cleanup of fire areas when the blaze is completely out, and finding clean air spaces for sleep camps.
“Respiratory protection is one piece of a broader puzzle,” said Natasha Broznitsky, a senior officer with the BC Wildfire Service.
“It’s not about finding one silver bullet. It’s about doing as many things as possible where they make sense.”
But battling wildfires is complex, and it’s sometimes not possible to follow protocols that can reduce exposure. That’s why supplying respirators is one of the easiest protection options, said Drew Lichty, an occupational hygienist with the Kamloops, B.C.-based Thompson Rivers University.
He’s been helping the BC Wildfire Service, which in 2024 introduced three different gear options for its crews: two different types of respirators with cartridges, and an N95 mask model with a valve to improve airflow.
The wildfire service offers training on how to use the equipment, and wearing it is not mandatory. But since it’s been offered, about half of eligible workers have ordered the gear, Lichty said.
While the former Manitoba firefighter said they wouldn’t have opted for better respiratory protective equipment, others might have. It’s important to have the option, they said.
“Some people would love it, especially when it’s super smoky,” they said.
But Lichty said as wildfire seasons become more severe, those kinds of days might come more often.
“It has the potential to become more unhealthy if things aren’t done to try to curtail some of that exposure,” he said.
Crews battling wildfires in Manitoba face challenges in reducing their exposure to noxious gases from smoke, with some firefighters saying masks can cause heat exhaustion and difficulty breathing.
