Where There’s Smoke, There’s Ire

Forest Service Science Protects Public Health by Forecasting Potency and Path of Smoke. 

Rain is essential, but floods can be devastating. The same holds true for fire. Fire helps to keep forests healthy, but when it is too big, too hot, and out of control, fire can be catastrophic. Fire is an annual occurrence in some U.S. landscapes, particularly those in the West, and the Pacific Northwest is no exception. In 2016 alone, more than 3,000 wildland fires burned more than 1 million acres across Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Pacific Northwest Research Station fire science is helping communities live alongside fire.