Health Impacts of Future Prescribed Fire Smoke: Considerations from an Exposure Scenario in California CALFIRE Webinar

Webinar for CALFIRE Prescribed fire is a forest management strategy for reducing risk of wildfires. This study examined the change in cardiorespiratory health impacts (emergency department visits) that could result from an expected increase in the use of prescribed fire in California’s high-priority wildfire risk areas. Projections of future prescribed burning suggest that more people would experience smoke more often, exposures would occur at lower concentrations, and there would be fewer days with high concentrations than in the past. With the increased number of days of exposure near populated areas, the health burden would also increase relative to historical prescribed fire. Understanding the potential impact of prescribed fire may simultaneously help protect public health and increase safety from wildfires.      

Impact/Purpose

This study examined the change in cardiorespiratory health impacts (emergency department visits) that could result from an expected increase in the use of prescribed fire in California’s high-priority wildfire risk areas. Projections of future prescribed burning suggest that more people would experience smoke more often, exposures would occur at lower concentrations, and there would be fewer days with high concentrations than in the past. With the increased number of days of exposure near populated areas, the health burden would also increase relative to historical prescribed fire. 

Citation

Rosenberg, A. AND A. Rappold. Health Impacts of Future Prescribed Fire Smoke: Considerations from an Exposure Scenario in California CALFIRE Webinar. Calfire webinar, na, CA, May 29, 2024.