For decades the US Navy used the OBA[1], or Oxygen Breathing Apparatus, for fire-fighting, which also worked using a sodium chlorate candle. I had only ever use

For decades the US Navy used the OBA[1], or Oxygen Breathing Apparatus, for fire-fighting, which also worked using a sodium chlorate candle. I had only ever used them in boot camp, as when I got to the fleet they were starting to switch over to SCBAs — what actual fire-fighters use on land. I was always terrified of the thought of having to use one in because I vaguely recall something about them potentially exploding if they got too wet which seemed almost guaranteed being on a ship in the ocean. A few years ago, maybe 2015 or so, I was walking through base on my way home and saw a moored tugboat was on fire. The two guys on board were in OBAs trying to put it out while waiting for the base FD to show up, so I suppose they’re still used in some places. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_breathing_apparatus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_breathing_apparatus