Forest service reverses decades-long ban, allows wildfire firefighters to use N95 masks

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The U.S. Forest Service is reversing its decades-long ban on federal firefighters wearing masks and providing N95s for wildfire crews.

The agency previously argued masks caused heat exhaustion, while countries such as Canada and Australia successfully equipped firefighters without issue.

California announced $9.7 million in funding for research examining the effects of firefighter smoke exposure.

The U.S. Forest Service has announced it is reversing a ban on federal firefighters wearing masks, and will give crews protective N95s as they battle increasingly intense fires across the nation.

For decades, the agency argued their use made firefighters vulnerable to heat exhaustion.