Do N95 masks work for smoke? Are all N95 masks good for smoke protection? It’s important to understand how your respirator will work when it comes to different kinds of air quality, because wearing the wrong mask can make your breathing worse rather than better. This guide discusses the differences between using an N95 mask for wildfire smoke and using an N95 mask for smoke from fires and wood stoves, in addition to discussing what types of masks are good for all types of smoke.