At the Intersection: Protecting Public Health from Smoke While Addressing the U.S. Wildfire Crisis

To combat the Wildfire Crisis in the U.S., prescribed fire is being instituted at an unprecedented scale. While there are documented examples of the ability of prescribed fire to reduce the size and intensity of individual fires, and subsequently smoke produced, prescribed fire also produces smoke. With one of the goals of prescribed fire being to reduce the amount of smoke emitted from future wildfires, it is important that public health actions be taken to reduce the air quality and public health impacts associated with prescribed fire too. This commentary highlights remaining knowledge gaps around prescribed fire that if addressed can better ensure public health is protected and argues that prescribed fire presents us with an opportunity to prepare communities for smoke that is often not possible during wildfire events.

Impact/Purpose

It is projected that upwards of 50 million acres of land will be treated by prescribed fire over the next 10 years to try and reduce wildfire risk and the amount of smoke emitted during wildfire events. However, prescribed fire also produces smoke that can lead to air quality and public health impacts. Unlike wildfire, the planned nature of prescribed fire presents an opportunity to prepare individuals and communities for smoke and to reduce the potential public health impacts. This commentary highlights remaining knowledge gaps in our understanding of prescribed fire and the actions that can be taken to ensure public health is protected as the amount of prescribed fire conducted increases.

Citation

Sacks, J., A. Holder, A. Rappold, AND A. Vaidyanathan. At the Intersection: Protecting Public Health from Smoke While Addressing the U.S. Wildfire Crisis. American Thoracic Society, New York, NY, 208(7):755-757, (2023). [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202304-0744VP]

DOI: At the Intersection: Protecting Public Health from Smoke While Addressing the U.S. Wildfire Crisis