Smoke in the Southwest

In the Southwest, most ecosystems are adapted to some form of wildland fire. Smoke, the major byproduct of fire, is a real health issue, and finding ways to deal with this reality is discussed by several federal employees who work in land management.

Click here to listen to our “Smoke in the Southwest” podcast by Caitlyn Burford.


February 6, 2019: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) For Measuring Canopy Fuels And Aerial Ignitions

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) for measuring canopy fuels and aerial ignitions Presenters: Patrick Shin, Northern Arizona University and Jim Higgins, Drone Amplified Date: February 6, 2019 12pm Mountain This webinar combines two expert views of using drones in fire management. First Patrick Shin of Northern Arizona University will briefly discuss his research on using drones to evaluate canopy …

December 12, 2018: Use of small unmanned aircraft on wildfire incidents

Presenter: Mike Fontenot, Sky Fire Services & Fairmount Fire PD Date: December 12, 2018 12pm Mountain Unmanned Aircraft, commonly called “Drones,” are being used more and more for public safety, research, etc. Falling prices, rising capabilities, and a favorable regulatory framework are all fueling this growth. Let’s look at actual, real-world, Wildfire missions where these aircraft are …

November 28, 2018: Burning piles- effects of pile age, moisture, mass, and composition on fire effects, consumption, decomposition

Presenter: Zander Evans, Forest Stewards Guild Date: November 28, 2018 12pm Mountain Millions of acres of fuels reduction treatments are being implemented each year in the fire adapted forests of the US. Typical these fuel reduction treatments target small diameter trees for removal producing large amounts of unmerchantable woody material and elevating surface fuel loadings. …

Fire & Archaeology: Working together to protect cultural resources during wildfires and prescribed fires

Land managers are challenged to protect cultural resources within the context of reintroducing fire on the landscape. Positive relationships and partnerships are essential to effective management. View the YouTube video here.


October 10, 2018: Modeling and mapping the potential for high severity fire in the western U.S.

Presenter: Sean Parks, Research Ecologist, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service Date: October 10, 2018 11am AZ/12pm MDT The ecological effects of wildland fire – also termed the fire severity – are often highly heterogeneous in space and time. This heterogeneity is a result of spatial variability in factors …

Resources for predicting and mitigating smoke impacts of wildland fires

Resources for predicting and mitigating smoke impacts of wildland fires PDF. Working Paper 40, August 2018, by Caleb Stotts, Pete Lahm, and Claudia Standish Factsheet also available here. Fact Sheet, August 2018, by Caleb Stotts, Pete Lahm, and Claudia Standish Fire managers use prescribed fire and some wildfires to meet resource management objectives, like restoring and maintaining …

Smoke impacts, air resource advisors and you!

Air Resource Advisors provide a vast array of tools and products to predict and communicate smoke impacts during wildfires. Having a resource solely dedicated to smoke management and effective messaging improves both internal and external communication. View the video here.


August 29, 2018: The full community costs of wildfire

Date: August 29, 2018 11am AZ/12pm MDT Presenter: Kimiko Barrett, Headwaters Economics As wildfires increase in size and severity, the costs to protect homes and lives similarly rise. Yet protecting communities represents a relatively small portion of the total costs of a wildfire—other short- and long-term impacts yield a variety of costs that often go …