It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that where there is fire, there is smoke. In fact, historical accounts document wildland fires and smoky conditions throughout the summer months in much of the western United States.

Today, as fire managers once again use prescribed fire for ecological benefits, smoke is of major concern to land managers and the general public. There is no feasible way to eliminate smoke; however, fire managers and air quality agencies work together to ensure that air quality standards are met, while still achieving the ecological benefits that come from periodic fire.

Before a prescribed fire is ever started, fire managers use a variety of models to predict when and where smoke will travel. Fuel size, type, arrangement and amount all play a role in how smoke will behave. Fire managers like Brett Faye, Dixie National Forest, know from past experience and research that spring is the best time to start a prescribed fire and they can assess fuel moisture and height to help determine the type of fire that will produce the least amount of emissions and will disperse and dilute smoke appropriately. However smoke management, like weather forecasts, isn’t always an exact science. Winds up to 50 mph on June 9th not only refueled two prescribed burns, but also moved smoke into undesired areas.

For some, smoke is simply a nuisance. For others it is a health concern. Determining when benefits outweigh the costs can be difficult. One study *(Shindler et.al. 1996, as cited in NWCG, 1999) noted that short-term impacts on air quality and aesthetics were acceptable and that, “…currently, smoke and air quality are not major issues for most people in the region; however, we know that it does not take many dissenters to elevate the status of this concern.”

More aggressive suppression actions were initiated for the Sanford fire on June 15, 2002, largely because of smoke and timber value issues. The proximity to several small southern Utah towns prompted officials to place numerous 20-person Type 1 teams and aircraft, equipped with fire retardant, on the Sanford fire. In addition, Environmental Protect Agency air quality “particle counters” were placed in Tropic and Escalante, Utah, and although air quality was quantified as “adequate,” the long duration of the smoke and intensity in some areas was a health concern for many community members.

The U.S. Forest Service will continue to monitor smoke and smoke-related issues by working with air quality specialists and the public.

*National Wildfire Coordinating. Group. 1999. Fire Communication and Education. Pub. NFES 2602. [Online:] Available at: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm. [September 17, 2002].

Fire moved quickly up these canyons and pushed smoke down into many neighboring small towns.