It is a recommended practice, regardless of legal requirements, to notify adjacent landowners as well as the local fire department before conducting a prescribed fire. Contact requirements necessary to conduct a prescribed fire vary among states. Check state and local regulations before conducting a prescribed burn. If applicable, check with your state prescribed fire council for additional guidance (Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils).
How do I manage smoke from a prescribed fire?
There are many methods and options that can be utilized to manage smoke from a prescribed fire.
To minimize smoke problems:
- burn smaller units;
- burn when weather conditions are likely to produce the best dispersion;
- burn when fuel conditions are likely to produce the least amount of smoke;
- utilize suitable ignition techniques for smoke management;
- conduct post-burn mop-up to reduce nuisance smoke;
- reduce the amount of fuels to reduce smoke emissions; and
- reduce the impact of smoke on people.
The National Weather Service fire weather forecasts are a good source of information for smoke dispersion conditions.
For more information see Smoke Management for Prescribed Burns.
Is a controlled burn the same as a prescribed fire?
Generally speaking, the two phrases have the same meaning. However, technically speaking, prescribed fire is the application of fire in a burn unit to wildland fuels under specified environmental conditions to accomplish specific land management goals and objectives. Whereas, controlled burn is a more generic term with different meanings to different people.
The term controlled burn predates the term prescribed fire. As the science, application, and profession of burning developed and expanded, the term prescribed fire was introduced to better reflect the process involved in planning and conducting a burn.
What is a prescribed fire?
A prescribed fire is the application of fire to the land under specified conditions with the fire confined to a predetermined area (the burn unit) to accomplish predefined land management goals and objectives. Prescribed fire typically involves prior planning (usually a written plan), firebreak identification and or preparation, civil authority and neighbor notification, specific equipment, adequate labor with specific responsibilities, specific weather conditions, smoke management considerations, specific ignition procedures, contingency plans, and post-burn mop-up and monitoring.