Smoke Management and Fire
Overview
The balance of natural ecosystem needs and the resulting impact on air resources in parks, near parks and regionally is tied to the role of wild-land fire. The Air Resources Division works with multiple partners to develop fire policies that protect air quality.
Smoke Management and the NPS
One of the largest sources of emissions within some parks is fire. Fire is a part of many natural systems that are being sustained in parks. Failure to accommodate this natural process can result in catastrophic fires that may cause unnatural destruction of park natural resources and harm to nearby communities. Each park with vegetation capable of burning is required to prepare a fire management plan. The plan guides the program by addressing safety considerations, resource management objectives, and potential impacts. The NPS complies with all federal, state and local air quality regulations and permitting requirements related to prescribed fire management and is committed to minimizing air pollution emissions associated with the use of prescribed fires.
For additional information related to the NPS fire and smoke management programs:
The NPS Fire Management Program Center (FMPC) provides national leadership, direction, coordination, and support for NPS fire, aviation, and incident management.
The NPS Wildland Fire Management Policy provides guidance for the development of park Fire Management Plans (FMP).
Other Fire Management Resources
The National Fire Plan represents a long-term investment that will help protect communities and natural resources, and most importantly, the lives of firefighters and the public. It is a long-term commitment based on cooperation and communication among federal agencies, states, local governments, tribes and interested public.
The Environmental Protection Agency's Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fire (and related documents) addresses public health and welfare impacts caused by wildland and prescribed fires that are managed to achieve resource benefits.
The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Fire Emissions Joint Forum makes recommendations to the WRAP and related WRAP forums on policies and methodologies for: estimating air pollution emissions and their effects on air quality and visibility due to smoke from various natural and human-caused fires; developing a data set and associated tracking system for those emissions in the geographical area at least encompassed by the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC) states and tribes; recommending strategies and methods to manage emissions from these sources.
For more information on wildland fire current and historical statistics for prescribed and wild fire on Department of Interior Lands, please visit www.nifc.gov/stats/.