Chapter 6. A Screening Method for Identifying Potential Air Quality Risks from Extreme Wildfire Events

Abstract

Summary Historic land use policies and fire suppression practices have resulted in vegetation conditions and fuel loadings on public lands which increase the potential for catastrophic wildfire events. Air quality is an important consideration during wildfire events and in implementing the fire or smoke management practices which reduce the likelihood and/or impacts of such events. Regulations exist at the national, state, and in some cases local level, to protect public health and visibility/scenic values from the air pollution from many sources, including fire. Air regulators can make informed decisions, and better set priorities in support of implementing wildfire prevention actions and management alternatives, if they can identify and rank areas susceptible to wildfire events relative to the potential risk to air quality values. This information can also be used by land managers to better incorporate air quality considerations into their overall analysis of the cumulative socioenvironmental effects of potential wildfire events. This paper describes a screening method which utilizes readily available data sources and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools in conjunction with an air quality dispersion model to rank risks from potential wildfire events relative to public health and visibility air quality values. The screening method is piloted using information from the State of Colorado. The results can be used to indicate and communicate the potential risk to air quality values for those areas which are susceptible to wildfire events.