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Author(s):
David R. Godwin, Alan J. Long, Peter Lahm
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

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

NRFSN number: 12384
FRAMES RCS number: 16624
Record updated:

Smoke management has become one of the leading challenges facing prescribed fire practitioners in the Southeast and the continued use of prescribed fire in the region may depend on effective smoke and emission mitigation practices. While not a comprehensive list of smoke management strategies, the 2011 USFS-NRCS guide to Basic Smoke Management Practices (BSMPs) describes six basic practices that are good starting points for prescribed fire planning and operations. Elements of the six BSMPs may not apply to all burns due to variations in burn size, fuels, and potential impacts on air quality. Nonetheless, each practice should be evaluated for application on every burn even if there is a local smoke management program. This fact sheet briefly summarizes many of the key elements in the USFS-NRCS guide, but readers are encouraged to dig into the full publication to better understand how to implement each practice.

Citation

Godwin, David R.; Long, Alan J.; Lahm, Peter. 2014. Six basic smoke management practices for prescribed burning. Joint Fire Science Program; Southern Fire Exchange Fact Sheet 2014-1. 2 p.

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