UGA Today highlights lab’s research on smoke emissions from prescribed fire
UGA Today recently covered new research quantifying how prescribed fire smoke affects air quality across the Southeast. The study found prescribed burns account for over 20% of regional fine particle pollution, with Georgia seeing the most smoke-impacted days of any state studied. Jones Center scientist Jeffery Cannon co-authored the work, which used burn permit records to model smoke exposure more accurately than satellite data alone — helping land managers balance fire’s conservation benefits with community health.
Pardon our smoke: Prescribed fire season ramps up in Georgia
February and March bring “bluebird days” where weather conditions are perfect for using prescribed fire to help conserve and protect longleaf pine ecosystems and the native species they house.