Smoke Management Program Testing

On February 7th, 2024, the EPA lowered the three-year average PM_2.5 allowable limits from 12 to 9. PM_2.5 is a regulated pollutant for which fire is one of the primary sources. Many areas around the state are currently at or above these established standards.

In an effort to protect the practice of prescribed fire while complying with these new regulations, the Georgia Forestry Commission and other prescribed fire practitioners are implementing measures to reduce smoke impacts and PM_2.5 emissions. This includes a pilot project based around smoke management. The pilot project focuses on dispersion index, transport winds, PM_2.5 levels and wind direction.

All or part of the following counties are included in the pilot project: Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt Crisp, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Sumter, Terrell, Turner, Worth

• Albany Pilot Project Summary V1
• Albany Pilot Project Summary 2.0 (V2)
• Albany Pilot Project 2.0 V-Smoke Decision Matrix
• Albany Pilot Project 2.0 Forecast Weather Display
• GFC’s Georgia Wildfire Public Viewer

As a result, you may be asked to downsize your burn or could be denied a permit due to smoke conditions. Please understand that these actions are taken to safeguard public health, meet environmental standards, and maintain the use of prescribed burning as a beneficial land management tool.

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Additional Information

• NAAQS Wildland Fire Air Quality Fact Sheet
• NAAQS Air Quality Index Fact Sheet
• NAAQS Overview Presentation
• USDA EPA DOI CDC Memorandum of Understanding