Smoke Management

Smoke, like fire, is a natural ecosystem component.  As part of the overall Fire and Fuels management strategy on the Forest, fire managers are sensitive to the need for smoke management during operations. While most fires do not cause serious smoke impacts for Forest users or residents, it is inevitable that some smoke will be present.  It’s important to recognize that regional haze and localized smoke from fire was historically part of the Sierra National Forest area’s viewscape. Historically, lightning fires that spread naturally burned through the late summer and early fall months. Prior to Euro-American suppression policies, fires ignited in the summer months by lightning storms or indigenous activities would slowly smolder with the cooler and shorter days and eventually be extinguished by rain or snow.

Managing Smoke: Fire managers on the Sierra National Forest take advantage of some natural lightning strike fires in an attempt to restore a natural fire cycle and regime in the ecosystem. Smoke from these fires will likely be visible from certain locations in the valley, particularly in the late summer and fall. However, smoke from these fires may or may not affect air quality in the greater valley areas.  For example, depending on conditions, even though you may see smoke columns from the valley floor, the smoke itself could be dispersing at higher elevations or even pushed to other regional areas.

The Sierra National Forest also completes prescribed burning during optimal conditions, coordinating with neighboring land management agencies, local communities, and Air Districts prior to ignition.  The early spring and fall months provide excellent prescription windows for fire managers to complete projects that meet the desired community protection and ecological goals of the Forest.  We work closely with the Air Pollution Control District to balance the fire and fuels management program with health and visibility issues.

What this means for you:  While it is a health concern for humans, plants have adapted to live with smoke just as they have many other natural elements of the environment. Scientists are discovering that some plants might even depend on smoke for their survival!  However, for humans, exposure to smoke can be reduced through actions by both Forest management and the public.  Smoke concentrations can be avoided by following a few simple rules. Close windows, doors, and outside vents when it is smoky to prevent accumulations indoors. Run your air conditioner, if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and keep the filter clean. Ventilate your home and work place during periods of little smoke. Avoid physical activities while smoke is dense. Paper masks are designed to trap large dust particles, not the tiny particles found in smoke. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke.

The fire management program considers smoke management in every step of program operations. We know that the communities surrounding the Forest are affected by our management decisions. We attempt to find a balance by addressing health and visibility concerns while also returning natural fire to the landscape to reduce the risk of larger, unwanted fires and to achieve the ecological benefits of natural fire.

It is important to remember that smoke from wildland fires fit into a larger context. The Forest exists in a regional area where air quality is regularly diminished by particulate pollution (i.e. motor vehicles, industrial fuel burning, manufacturing, and agriculture). To find out more about air quality issues and regulations, how smoke management fits into the larger air quality scheme, and for current conditions for your area, please visit the resources listed below:

California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Valley Air District)

AirNow: Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies developed the AIRNow Website to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information.

Real-Time Air Monitoring Stations

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Air Quality Forecast Guidance