Health Indicator Report of Wildland Fires

Wildland fires are any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fields [1]. Wildland fires include prescribed fire and wildfire. Wildland fires can adversely affect human health, primarily through exposure to smoke. Wildland fire smoke negatively affects everyone, but individuals with pre-existing conditions may have worse symptoms. Common symptoms from smoke inhalation include shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, coughing, irritated sinuses, and stinging eyes. Vulnerable populations would include those with asthma, heart or lung disease, and other pre-existing respiratory conditions. Individuals with respiratory problems may experience trouble breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. Those with heart disease may experience fatigue, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, and shortness of breath. If the fire is severe enough or if there is a high frequency of fires producing an abundance of smoke, even healthy individuals may experience these symptoms [3]. Wildfire frequency is dependent on a delicate balance between precipitation, heat, abundance of fuel (e.g., grass), and natural or human-caused ignition. No one aspect specifically causes a wildfire, but the relationship between these different factors can determine a high- or low-frequency wildfire season. A heavy snowpack in the winter with a wet spring and a slow transition from cool to warm weather could result in a low wildfire season. Consequently, a dry winter, rapid heating in the spring, and an abundance of dry grass could lead to a high-frequency fire season [4]. Although research is limited, it is suspected that climate change could interfere with this multi-factorial balance and potentially alter wildfire frequency. Climate change affects seasonal precipitation and temperature, so it is possible that less precipitation and higher temperatures due to changes in the climate could increase the frequency of wildfires. Prescribed fire is a planned fire; it is also sometimes called a "controlled burn" or "prescribed burn," and is used to meet management objectives [5]. A prescription is a set of conditions that considers the safety of the public and fire staff, weather, and probability of meeting the burn objectives [5]. Prescribed fire is one of the most important tools used to manage fire today. Climate experts project that as the climate continues to change, so will the frequency of extreme weather events. Such events have the potential to adversely affect human health and are therefore a public health concern. Droughts, floods, and wildfires have occurred in Utah, but the question is whether climate change will influence the frequency of these extreme weather events. [[br]][[br]] ---- 1. National Wildfire Coordinating Group (n.d.). Wildland Fire and Incident Management Terminology. Retrieved September 13, 2017 from [https://www.nwcg.gov/glossary/a-z].[[br]] 2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (2009). Glossary - Definition of wildfire. Retrieved December 22, 2016 from [http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/].[[br]] 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Emergency preparedness and response: Wildfires. Retrieved February 8, 2017 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/smoke.html].[[br]] 4. Dingman, G., Predictive Services, February 15, 2012, personal communication with staff.[[br]] 5. National Park Service (n.d.). Fire Classifications. Retrieved on April 19, 2018 from [https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-a-prescribed-fire.htm].