Health officials warn Kansans about prescribed burns, health effects

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Health officials remind Kansans that the next prescribed fire will cover the state, mainly the Flint Hills, for the next few months.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) advises Kansans that March and April bring prescribed burns to rangelands across the Sunflower State. Prescribed fire is a form of burning that landowners use as a tool to help preserve the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, control invasive species, reduce woody encroachment from species like Eastern Red Cedar and provide better better forage for cattle, according to the KDHE.

“We are entering the 14th year that we have been able to provide this important tool for the prescribed fire community,” Jayson Prentice, meteorologist at the KDHE Bureau of Air, said. “We continue to encourage ranchers and land managers to utilize smoke modeling resources, such as the smoke modeling tool to mitigate potential air quality impacts.”

Prescribed burns can also be a way to lessen the risk of wildfires and works to effectively manage rangeland resources. The smoke that comes from the prescribed burns can “influence the air quality of downwind areas,” according to the KDHE. Smoke management techniques are vital in reducing the air quality and health impacts in Kansas.

The KDHE works with the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management to create a smoke modeling tool for Kansas to show fire data and current weather conditions to predict any possible smoke impacting the air quality downwind of the prescribed burns.

The use of prescribed burns can release larger amounts of particulate matter and other pollutants that form at ground-level ozone, according to the KDHE, which can cause health problems for anyone.

Common health issues associated with increased airborne particulate matter include: burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and other respiratory illnesses. People with existing respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, children and the elderly can be more susceptive to these symptoms.

A list of ways to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your area is below:

Healthy people limiting or avoiding strenuous outdoor activity

Susceptive people should stay indoors

Keep your indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and run air conditioners with air filters

Stay hydrated by drinking water

Contact your primary care doctor if you experience symptoms like chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue

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