Colorado Smoke Management Program

Program in Context

What We Do and Why

Program Goal:  Influence management of Colorado prescribed fire smoke so that burners continue to protect visibility and public health and welfare.

• Semi-annual priorities

• Prescribed burning in Colorado in 2009 (570 KB).  Annual reporting occurs the following spring.

• Air Pollution Control Commission

  • Regulation 9

  • Statutory and related authorities to regulate open burning in Colorado

About 15 miles south of Silt at Reservoir Gulch 1200 acres of oak were ignited via helicopter.  Heavier cloud cover and stronger wind than anticipated both contributed to the smoke plume laying over.  Public interest was minimal and particulate concentrations were below health thresholds at the closest home. This picture was taken with a special tripod and dozens of photos.  The original retains fine resolution.  Photo courtesy Isaac Pittman, smoke monitor

Program Reviews & Stakeholder Meetings

• 2011 program review for HB1199, 3 Mb!

Health and smoke

• E.P.A. Information about Smoke and Health

• Simple Evaluation of Air Quality

• Public Health Officials' Guide to Wildfire Smoke

• Health Impacts of Smoke - EPA brochure

• Focus on children.  Choose the wildfire advisories.

• Training related to smoke

National policy context

• EPA's Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fire,  principles for smoke management programs.  As of spring '08, EPA is updating it.

• Westar, Western States Air Resource Council, is an air quality discussion forum for state agencies and partners.