After you complete the An Ounce of Prevention main quest to develop a vaccine, you need to set out and join the Fire Breathers; an elite force within the Responders. You should automatically start the Fallout 76 Into the Fire main quest as soon as you complete the vaccine. For this quest you’ll be heading for the derelict town of Charleston.
How to Complete the Fallout 76 Into the Fire Main Quest
To get started with the Fallout 76 Into the Fire quest, you first need to to make your way to Charleston. This town isn’t too far away from the AVR Medical Centre, where you finished An Ounce of Prevention; it can be found along the southern border of the Forest region. When you arrive in the derelict town, head to the southern end to find the Charleston Fire Department. Here you must take the Fire Breather Knowledge Exam to join the Fire Breathers. The questions aren’t too difficult, but there are notes all around the fire department with clues as to the answers if you want some help. There is also an answer key kept in an upstairs office. For a more detailed guide on this exam, read here. While you’re here, be sure to find the Overseer’s Cache; continuing your progress on the Overseer’s Mission side-quest.
Once you’ve passed the knowledge exam, you need to pass the physical exam too. This can be started via a terminal in the Charleston Herald building. Beware crossing directly through the centre of Charleston, as the town is filled with warring Scorched and Super Mutants. Try skirting the town to stay out of their way. Once you start the physical exam, press Button A next to the terminal and then run to the south side of the building to hit Button B, then run back and hit A again. Note that you have a three-minute time limit, and you’ll have to fight or dodge Scorched en route. Note that you can see arrows on the walls to mark your route between the buttons.
The Final Exam and Belching Betty
With the physical exam complete, you can start the final practical exam. For this, you need to leave Charleston and make your way south into Ash Heap. You’re heading for Belching Betty, an old mine shaft. Beware that the air in Ash Heap is often toxic, but you’ll soon find a solution for this. When you arrive at Belching Betty you can collect your new Fire Breathers gear. This includes the Fire Breathers Helmet, Fire Breathers Uniform, an Anti-Scorched Training Pistol, and the Fire Breathers Final Exam Briefing Holotape. The helmet will protect you from the toxic air, which is especially dangerous inside the mine. Simply listen to the holotape and then you can start the exam. Bear in mind that you don’t have to use the Training Pistol, but it does deal +25% damage against Scorched.
Inside the mine, use the nearby terminal to unlock the inner door. From here, follow the tunnel until you reach a fork; you can take either route, as both lead to the same place. Expect to encounter lots of Scorched throughout the mine. Keep forging on until you reach the Emergency Beacon. Pressing this will cause more Scorched to appear, so be careful on your way out. Back on the surface, talk to Bernie to complete the exam. Now all that’s left is to return to the Charleston Fire Department to register officially as a Fire Breather. This will give you a “Welcome to the Fire Breathers,” Holotape to listen to.
Finally, head upstairs to a room which is adjacent to the terminal on the second floor. Here you can press a button to play a recorded “priority message”; doing so will complete the quest, rewarding you with random ammo and aid items. You’ll also receive some anti-Scorched weapon mod plans. The next main quest, The Missing Link, will start automatically.