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Author(s):
Anthony Matthews, Vince Carver
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Effects
Ecological - First Order
Emissions
Smoke & Air Quality
Smoke & Populations

NRFSN number: 12440
FRAMES RCS number: 15724
Record updated:

Nighttime smoke dispersal from most prescribed fires is critical for public health and safety. For this reason, prescribed fire training and guidelines include detailed information about smoke management and remind burn managers to be constantly aware of weather, fuel, and other situations that might lead to smoke dispersion problems. Nonetheless, it is easy to overlook a small detail that can lead to problems later. This fact sheet lists situations or conditions that agency administrators, fire management officers, burn bosses, and landowners should pay attention to when planning and implementing prescribed burns. Answering 'yes' to the following questions indicates a need to strengthen or modify plans and mitigation measures. This fact sheet is one tool for fire managers to use in designing and conducting an effective and efficient smoke management strategy on prescribed burns. It supplements, but does not replace, the smoke screening systems and details described in the references on the next page. Refer to these sources if you are unsure about what to do if you have 'yes' answers.

Citation

Matthews, Anthony; Carver, Vince. 2011. Situational awareness: nighttime smoke and fog on prescribed burns. Joint Fire Science Program; Southern Fire Exchange Fact Sheet 2011-2. 2 p.

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