Of course, the earlier in the day a fire is completed, the less likely it is to cause nighttime smoke problems. More complete mopup following daytime burning and nighttime burning only under very stringent prescriptions can minimize the occurrence of these problems. Your local State forestry office can help with planning nighttime burns. Effects on Human Health and Welfare Occasional brief exposure of the general public to low concentrations of drift smoke is more a temporary inconvenience than a health problem. High smoke concentrations can, however, be a very serious matter, particularly near homes of people with respiratory illnesses or near health-care facilities.
Smoke can have negative short and long-term health effects.
Fire management personnel who are exposed to high smoke concentrations often suffer eye and respiratory system irritation. Under some circumstances, continued exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide at the combustion zone can result in impaired alertness and judgement. The probability of this happening on a prescribed fire is, however, virtually nonexistent. Smoke sensitive areas can be impacted by prescribed fire Over 90 percent of the particulate emissions from prescribed fire are small enough to enter the human respiratory system. These particulates can contain hundreds of chemical compounds, some of which are toxic.