Burn planners create notifications after their plans are approved, typically up to a week but no later than 24 hours before a burn. They use various channels like park websites, social media, and signage.

Notifications include the location, timing and reasons for the burn, as well as information about potential smoke impacts. During the burn, burn planners monitor smoke and other factors and keep the public informed through updates and notifications.

The professionals and agencies who plan prescribed burns must secure permits from the local air district for their plans. Plans address how smoke will be managed to minimize impacts on air quality and surrounding communities.

Prescribed burns generally produce less smoke than wildfires because they are not as intense, are more limited in size, and burn only targeted vegetation like brush and grasses. They are planned when wind and weather conditions will minimize smoke impacts on communities.​

Prescribed fire is used for a good purpose, but like all fire, creates smoke. Smoke can cause or worsen health problem​s. ​Anyone may experience symptoms if they are exposed to enough smoke, but older people, children, and people with asthma or other health conditions are more sensitive.​

Fire smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles. The biggest health threat from smoke is from tiny particles. 

These particles can get into your eyes and lungs, where they can cause burning eyes, runny nose, and other short-term health problems.

Longer-term, fine particles can also make heart and lung conditions worse. Breathing these particles over time is linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.

Smoke can cause health problem​s. Anyone may experience symptoms if they are exposed to enough smoke, but some people are more sensitive. People who are young, older, pregnant, or have existing lung or heart conditions, including asthma, should especially avoid breathing smoke.

​Fire fighters and people who live or work outside may be exposed to the most fire smoke.

Anyone experiencing unusual or severe symptoms after breathing smoke should talk to their doctor or other medical professional. ​​

People should take the same precautions with smoke from wildfires or prescribed burns. Prescribed burn notifications allow advance planning. 

• If a wildfire or a prescribed fire is in your area, monitor the EPA's Fire and Smoke Map
• Use the Air Quality Index (AQI)​ as a guide when deciding whether to do outdoor activities and whether to wear a mask outdoors. You can look up the AQI in your area using the AirNow app and website. Seeing and smelling smoke should also inform decisions.
• Plan outdoor activities at times to avoid periods of anticipated smoke.​​
  
• In smoky conditions, stay indoors with the windows and doors closed if possible. If you have a central-ducted air conditioning and heating system​, put it on the “recirculation" setting with a new high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 rating or higher). Use a certified portable air cleaner (look for signs that the air cleaner is "CARB-certified")​.
• If you need to be outdoors in smoky conditions, use a well-fitting mask, marked as "N95" or "P100" and with the words "NIOSH" on it, to minimize breathing smoke. Check with your doctor if you have an underlying condition that might prevent you from wearing an N95. N95s ​are not designed for children or people with facial hair. ​
• If traveling through smoke-impacted areas, put your vehicle's ventilation on recirculate.​
• Temporarily leave smoke-impacted areas, depending on sensitivity and level of smoke.​

Visit Smoke Ready California | California Air Resources Board, a c​​omprehensive site on protecting your health from fire smoke, including guidance on the following topics:

• Checking the Air Quality Index​ as you would the weather​
  
• Masking outdoors
• Staying indoors and keeping indoor air clean
• Using a central-ducted air conditioning and heating system with a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 rating or higher) 
  
• Using a certified air cleaner
  
• Creating your own air cleaner
  
• Creating a clean room at home
• Finding a clean air center
• Keeping children safe from smoke​
  
• Evacuating homes while staying safe from smoke
  

Visit Listos California: Wildfire Smoke, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services site providing posters and educational materials on preparing for wildfire smoke in many languages​.​

By phone

• If there is smoke but no visible wildfire, contact your local air district to find out if it is prescribed fire.​​
  
• Sign up for the county's emergency alert system, if available, for text notifications about emergencies and potential disruptions like prescribed burns​.
• Download smart phone apps to monitor wildfires, prescribed burns and air quality:

• AirNow app – shows current and forecasted air quality, from government air monitors. 
• ​​AirNow App in ​​App Store​​ |​ AirNow App in Google Play​
• California Smoke Spotter app –​ provides the latest information on prescribed fires and wildfires, air quality, and smoke forecasts throughout California. 
• ​Smoke Spotter App in App Store | Smoke Spotter App in Google Play
  
• ​Watch Duty app – shows wildfires and prescribed burns.​ 
• Watch Duty Maps App in App Store | Watch Duty Maps App in Google Play​​

Online

• AirNow Fire and Smoke Map – provides current information on PM 2.5, wildfire locations and smoke plumes, and special smoke outlooks when available.
• California Clean Air Centers Map – shows interactive, statewide map where you can find information about permanent and temporary clean air shelters, including their address, operating hours and contact information.
• California Smoke Blog – provides smoke outlooks for communities affected by wildfire smoke and other resources to protect yourself from smoke.
  
• CAL FIRE Incident Map – shows active controlled burns when the “prescribed fire" layer is turned on.
• My PurpleAir – shows current and forecasted air quality, from community air monitors
  

Local information

• Check local news and local agencies that may use press conferences, social media, public service announcements, health advisories, and air quality advisories.
• CAL FIRE and other prescribed fire planners may communicate through their own social media, newsletters, local news releases, and road signs.
• Follow other reliable sources, such as the county health department, office of emergency management, air district, and fire agencies on social media.
  

The State of California is responding to the urgent need to reduce the vegetation that fuels wildfires with a plan to greatly increase the pace and scale of using prescribed fire. Climate change is causing extreme heat and ​cycles of extreme precipitation and drought. This creates conditions leading to more frequent and intense wildfires.

Prescribed fire planners, air quality managers, and public health professionals can work together to reduce smoke exposure and mitigate impacts for medically vulnerable and low-resource populations. Local health jurisdictions can get involved in planning and outreach efforts to raise awareness about prescribed fire, smoke and health. See Prescribed Fire Involvement Checklist for Local Health Jurisdictions.

Visit Prescribed Fire, Smoke and Health : Interim Recommendations for Local Health Jurisdictions web page​​​