View the recording of the Fire Adapted Communities webinar here.
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Ask an Expert: How Dangerous is Wildfire Smoke?
NC State’s College of Natural Resources published a short interview with Jennifer Richmond-Bryant, an associate professor of the practice at NC State’s College of Natural Resources. The piece covers how wildfire smoke impacts air quality and human health.
Continue ReadingSmoke Pollution from Prescribed Burns vs. Wildfires
A recent JSTOR Daily article addresses issues related to air quality policies for prescribed fire and wildfire smoke.
Continue ReadingWildfire Smoke Impacts Nationwide
A National Geographic article covers the wide-ranging impacts of smoke from Western wildfires.
Continue ReadingNOAA HRRR Interactive System Maps Predicted Smoke Movement
The NOAA-HRRR-Smoke and Fire Mapping System provides an interactive web-based tool to track and observe current and predicted smoke concentrations across the US lower-48 states. More information about the NOAA-HRRR model. A recent article about wildfire smoke in the New York Times featured the NOAA-HRR Smoke Mapping System as well a general discussion of some potential health impacts from reduced air quality.
Continue ReadingUpdated AirNOW Fire and Smoke Map
The EPA AirNOW Fire and Smoke Map has been updated with a new interactive dashboard and additional features. For more information see the following press release from the EPA.
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EPA, Forest Service Release Improved Tools to Equip the Public with Information and Resources on Wildfire SmokeWASHINGTON (July 19, 2021) — As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to improve wildfire preparedness, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Forest Service have released updates to the popular AirNow Fire and Smoke Map to help protect communities across the country from the devastating impacts of wildfire smoke.
“Smoke from increasingly frequent, intense and widespread wildfires in the West is a significant public health threat, and EPA is committed to keeping people safe,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The updated Fire and Smoke Map harnesses the power of data and technology to help confront this challenge head on. The updated map provides additional tools to help communities near the front lines better understand their risks from wildfire smoke and the actions they can take to protect their health during wildfire events.”
EPA and the Forest Service launched the Fire and Smoke Map as a pilot in 2020 to provide the public information on fire locations, smoke plumes and air quality all in one place. The map quickly became a key wildfire smoke information source for the public, with more than 7.4 million views in the map’s first three months.
To give users the most localized air quality information possible, the Fire and Smoke Map pulls data from monitors that regularly report to AirNow, temporary monitors such as those the Forest Service and air agencies have deployed near fires, and crowd-sourced data from nearly 10,000 low-cost sensors that measure fine particle pollution, the major harmful pollutant in smoke. The map also provides easy access to smoke forecast outlooks, which the Forest Service provides when Air Resource Advisors have been deployed to wildland fires.
For 2021, the two agencies have made several improvements to the map based on feedback from state and local air agencies, Tribes, and members of the public. The updates include a “dashboard” that map users will see by clicking on a monitor or sensor. The dashboard gives users quick access to key information that can help them plan their activities: the current Air Quality Index (AQI) category at the monitor/sensor location; information showing whether air quality is getting better or worse; and information about actions to consider taking, based on the current AQI.
The updated Fire and Smoke Map also is more “mobile friendly” for people who visit the AirNow.gov website from a smartphone or tablet. The map will be available as part of the AirNow app in app stores in the coming weeks.
Visit the Fire and Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov/
SFE Webinar: Potential Impacts of Prescribed Fire Smoke on Air Quality, Public Health, and Socially Vulnerable Populations in the Southeastern U.S.
A free one hour webinar from North Carolina State University, the Southern Fire Exchange, and the University of Florida.
Society of American Foresters CFE Credit Expected.
Presenters:
Sadia Afrin, Graduate Research Assistant,
Dept. of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Fernando Garcia Menendez, Assistant Professor
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Webinar Description: While prescribed fire is an essential land management tool in the Southeast, its impacts on air quality and public health remain uncertain. This webinar will cover a recent project that used burn permit records, air quality modelling, and epidemiological associations between fine particulate matter concentrations and multiple health endpoints to examine these impacts, with a focus on case studies in Georgia and North Carolina. Results show not only potential health impacts from prescribed fire, but call for greater attention to the characterization of prescribed fire impacts, potential air quality benefits of land treatment, and the communities most exposed to fire-related smoke. Following the presentations there will be time for audience Q/A with the speakers.
Continue ReadingGuidance Available to Prepare Schools, Commercial and Public Buildings for Wildfire Smoke
Smoke in wildfire prone states is a growing health concern, especially for vulnerable populations. EPA is collaborating with partners to develop guidance to protect those who are in schools, commercial buildings and other public buildings from wildfire smoke exposure. A newly released interim guide provides recommendations and processes for developing a smoke readiness plan for commercial buildings that can be implemented when smoke is forecasted and during smoky days.
Continue ReadingNew Research Links Wildfire Smoke and Skin Irritation
In a new study published in JAMA Dermatology, an examination of 8049 dermatology clinic visits by 4147 patients found that short-term wildfire-associated air pollution exposure was significantly associated with increased rates of weekly appointments. The increases were seen in pediatric and adult appointments for atopic dermatitis and in pediatric appointments for itch.
Continue Reading21st Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (Virtual)
On behalf of the NTFAQ Planning Committee and all of us at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), and the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center (TAMS Center), it is our pleasure to open registration to the 21st Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality. This year we are pleased to bring our conference to you virtually, with recorded and live presentations from tribal environmental professionals, U.S. EPA leadership and staff, and many others who are helping to advance air quality protection throughout Indian Country.
Our conference theme is “50 years of the Clean Air Act and How Traditional Wisdom Can Lead Us Into the Future”. Throughout the NTFAQ conference we will be weaving in the voices of Native youth and elders – a reminder to us all of the importance of the work we do. The tapestry of tribal air quality programs is rich and diverse, much like the traditions and languages of Native American Tribes and Alaskan Native Villages. It is in this spirit that we invite you to join us for the 2021 NTFAQ and say thank you, Mvto (Muscogee), Pilamaya (Lakota), Miigwech (Ojibwe), Wa do (Cherokee), Quyana (Yup’ik), Yokoke (Choctaw), Ahéhee’ (Dine’)!
For questions please email us at [email protected].
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