I use a respirator as my mower is in front, and I have severe allergies. Kind of look like a stormtrooper with goggles and a mask.
But this weekend I paid a huge price in a way I did not expect. We burned up some huge brush / log piles. Basically 140 feet by 30 feet by 20 feet. 3 years of collection. Well, now that the fires are gone I would spread the massive ash pile. Boy was that a HUGE mistake. No mask, no goggles. I still have black junk coming out of my nose. do not know how the forest fire fighters do it.