There has been some research done, which indicates that bushfire smoke is dangerous to your health as well, due to the various combustion products.
If both MFS & CFS members followed their respective SOP's, then MFS firefighters should have less exposure to smoke than CFS, as they should be wearing BA to the bulk of their jobs, while CFS members, who might only attend the occasional structure / car fire, but several bushfires, are not wearing respiratory protection, the bulk of the time, and hence have large exposure to smoke......
So are CFS Volunteers not facing the same risks as paid firefighters?
Pip
Basic Firefighting 101
Place yourself UPWIND so as not to be in the smoke???
Risk Vs Reward, unless there is something of value, why place yourself in harms way?
Perhaps you should try to attend a Compartment firefighting course, and then you will appreciate that you do not face the same risks as paid firies.