Prescribed and Wildland Fires
Prescribed fires are those fires purposefully ignited on wildlands to meet specific land management objectives, such as reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health, site preparation, and improving rangeland vegetation.
Wildfires are unwanted wildland fires, and may be caused by such things as negligent human behavior or lightning.
See the links below and our EPA Smoke Information and Smoke Management web pages for information on how air quality issues are being addressed for prescribed and wildland fires.
EPA Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires - This is EPA’s interim policy for addressing public health and welfare impacts caused by wildland and prescribed fires that are managed to achieve resource benefits. EPA is currently updating this policy and expects to publish the summer of 2008. This update will also include agricultural field burning. The new policy will be used in conjunction with EPA's Exceptional Event Rule.
EPA Natural Events Policy - The EPA Natural Events Policy has been superceded by the regulation "Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events", published in the Federal Register, March 22, 2007. This rule provides the criteria and process for a State to exclude certain ambient air quality data when making attainment and nonattainment NAAQS determinations.
For information on prescribed and wildland fires in your area: