Wednesday, January 1, 2003

Smoke management

Smoke management has become more of a concern as many areas of Fayette County become more populated. Before burning off land or natural debris you need to become aware of the effects and hazards of smoke that controlled burning may cause. You should also be aware that you are responsible for your fire and keeping it from getting out of control and causing damage, you are responsible for your smoke and the hazards it may cause. Wildfires, prescribed woodland burning, burning brush, or any type of outside burning can smoke up homes, communities, and can also reduce visibility on roads and airports.

Over 90 percent of forest smoke is made up of water vapor and carbon dioxide, of which neither are pollutants, it is the other things in smoke that can be harmful. The greatest problem with smoke is tiny particles that can not be seen, and in large amounts, they can greatly reduce visibility. This is why burning upwind of highways, roads and airports can be very dangerous. These particles can also be inhaled and increase respiratory problems as well as being irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.

To manage smoke, the Georgia Forestry Commission suggests that you look downwind to see what areas may be adversely affected. Next contact your county fire department for a burning permit. When smoke dispersion is poor, no burning permits should be issued. This is due to the fact that smoke will not rise and disperse into the atmosphere potentially causing hazardous smoke related conditions. Always check before you burn.

Your burning may irritate your neighbor, or could even cause a traffic accident. Burning areas of less than an acre and small debris piles generally will not cause much of a problem. The larger the area to be burned, the greater problems with smoke it may cause.

Some points to consider -- Let debris dry out as much as possible before burning to reduce smoke, "green" debris will smoke more that it will burn. Before burning large debris piles, loosen these to reduce the amount of dirt, and try to keep piles small. The larger the size of the fuel, the longer it will take to burn, thus producing more smoke for a longer period of time. Smoke can be more of a problem if the piles burn on into the night. At night, smoke dispersion becomes very poor and smoke tends to hang low and affect a much larger area. Burning leaves are most notorious for the amount of smoke they produce.

Also, safety tips to remember -- debris piles should be at least 50 feet from buildings, roads (burning out ditches along roadways is not permitted), and wooded areas, and also should be in a well cleared, dirt area. Have plenty of help and fire suppression equipment available, such as a hose or other water source, and a rake or shovels.

For information on smoke management contact your county Georgia Forestry Commission office at 770-227-5522 or 770-358-1459. Contact your county fire department for a burning permit.

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