Environmental health investigations branch

Sign warning that presccribed fire is taking place

Prescribed Fire, Smoke and Health:

Involvement Checklist for Local Health Jurisdictions

Help people protect themselves from prescribed fire smoke

“Prescribed" fires are carefully controlled burns used by experts to help prevent large, dangerous wildfires. While planned to minimize smoke impacts, their use creates smoke that could cause health problems for some. Help your community avoid breathing smoke by sharing prescribed fire notifications and smoke readiness education.

	Monitor Fires and Smoke:	Monitor local advisories, news, social media and apps.
	Make Connections:	Engage with local air districts, CAL FIRE and burn practitioners.
	Stay Informed:	Set up your notifications for local prescribed burns.
	Educate and Engage:	Through collaborations and partnerships, share prescribed burn notifications and smoke and health information.
	Share Resources:	Connect communities with clean air centers, air purifiers, and masks.

Step 1: Set up ways to get notifications about prescribed burns

Monitor local prescribed burns online or using apps

Monitor the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS) (burns over 10 acres).
Download Watch Duty, Smoke Spotter, and AirNow smart phone apps.

Connect with your local air district

Share your interest in helping amplify burn notifications with air pollution control officers.
Propose establishing protocols to receive notifications about planned prescribed burns.
Request names of high-volume applicants for prescribed burns permits.
Subscribe to the air district's communications channels to receive public notifications.

Contact prescribed burn practitioners and planners

Contact your regional CAL FIRE Office to discuss their burn plans. (See the list of Northern or Southern Region units on the CAL FIRE Contacts web page).
Identify and meet with other prescribed burn planners directly, such as:

Public information officers from federal, state, local, or tribl agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, California State Parks).
Resource conservation groups or prescribed burn associations.
Private landowners involved in fuels reduction and prescribed burn activity.

Ask to be included in notification plans for upcoming prescribed burns.
Suggest building partnerships with local agencies and to align on messaging.
Monitor burn planner communications for updates and burn schedules.

Collaborations built around prescribed fire work can strengthen relationships with agencies and community groups, supporting broader public health responsibilities like outreach and engagement.

Step 2: Collaborate, educate and share resources

Set up ways to share timely notifications about upcoming prescribed burns with community partners and residents. Raise public awareness on fire, smoke and health.

Coordinate with local partners

Engage local emergency management and other agencies, departments, fire prevention groups and trusted community-based organizations to amplify advance notifications of prescribed burns and to share health education on fire, smoke and health.
Prioritize outreach and communications to facilities serving populations more likely to be affected by smoke (schools, childcare centers, senior centers and hospitals).

Facilitate health education

Provide smoke readiness education before and during prescribed fire season in the spring and fall. Wildfire safety education is typically delivered before the summer.
Encourage regularly checking the U.S. EPA AirNow Fire and Smoke Map for smoke and air quality information, as well as the AirNow phone app (see smoke icon bottom right).
Help populations more likely to be affected by smoke set up cleaner air rooms at home.
Share the CDPH Prescribed Fire, Smoke and Health web page for more information.

People around a table at a community meeting

Use emergency alerts

The county's emergency alert system, if available, can send text notifications about prescribed burns and air quality, in addition to emergency alerts.

Expand access to resources

Work with air districts and others to expand access for schools, organizations and individuals to smoke resources like clean air centers, air purifiers or mask respirators.