Model Y driver credits Tesla's bioweapon mode with surviving LA's Palisades fire though smoke smell would've passed through

The worst ever California forest and bush fires engulfing Los Angeles have been claiming lives and property across the upscale Palisades neighborhood, with hundreds of thousands of residents trying to flee before it is too late.

One Model Y owner is crediting their Tesla with helping them survive the billowing smoke while trying to drive away from the Palisades fire. The Bioweapon Defense Mode of Teslas with an aviation-grade HEPA filter that goes for $90 per a 6-pack on Amazon creates positive pressure in the car by turning the HVAC system to the max, thus trying to direct all outside air through the filter.

It wouldn't have prevented the Palisades fire's smoke odor, though, as HEPA filters don't do that, but the Bioweapon Defense Mode is the right choice when the Tesla literally has to sit close to the fire with smoke passing through the seals.

For simply passing by something burning and wanting to escape the smoke odor altogether with little chance of it going in, one can simply turn on the cabin air recirculation mode. With the Palisades fire engulfing the neighborhood and thick plumes of smoke billowing all around, however, the Model Y driver took no chances and turned on Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode.

They escaped unscathed save for, perhaps, the nasty smell that stemmed from actually bringing more outside air in the cabin due to the positive pressure when the A/C is in bioweapon mode.

Interestingly enough, the Model Y driver also used FSD to drive away from LA's fires, perhaps realizing that they are too overwhelmed or visibility too low to get away safely. Tesla got a whiff of the situation, and its official X account already commented with "Glad to hear - please stay safe" about the whole Model Y Palisades fire escapade.