Why is smoke management important?
Smoke management is important as it helps reduce the impact of smoke exposure on people and primary production, most notably wine grapes.
Country Fire Service SA's Smoke Management Policy helps mitigate the impact of smoke on the South Australian community and its economic activities. The aim is to help build community and industry understanding on smoke management with prescribed burning.
The policy, which NPWS abides by, makes clear that with careful planning and effective engagement, prescribed burning can be undertaken alongside community and industry activities using the following principles:
- Act in good faith to avoid or reduce the impact of smoke on economic and community activities.
- Utilise best available information to conduct burns under forecast favourable weather conditions.
- Encourage communication between stakeholders to consider and plan to avoid or manage impacts of burning on sensitive sites.
- Support continuous improvement to understand the impact of smoke on economic and community activities.
NPWS Fire Management Officers work hard to reduce the risk of smoke impacts from prescribed burns, along with balancing the need to reduce the risk of bushfire on the community. As a result, smoke taint has not been known to occur on wine grapes because of the NPWS prescribed burn program.
Why prescribed burning is important
Fire is a natural part of the South Australian landscape and even the best prevention activities can’t stop bushfires occurring during extreme or catastrophic fire weather events. However, reducing fuel loads does reduce the speed and intensity at which a bushfire burns, which can reduce the risk to lives, property, and the environment.
Smoke management is always a consideration during burn planning and delivery, especially when burning close to vulnerable communities such as nursing homes, hospitals and schools, and primary producers such as orchards and vineyards. NPWS consults with CFS, local councils, private landholders and agricultural groups before a burn is scheduled.
Smoke and your wellbeing
Sometimes smoke travelling over homes is unavoidable. To reduce the impact of smoke on your health or around your home, it is recommended adequate precautions are taken to ensure your well-being. Please sign up to our prescribed burn notifications so you will know when we will be burning near you.
If there is any smoke in your area, remove washing from your line and ensure all doors and windows remain closed until it passes. Smoke could also be present from burns on farms or forestry lands as well as domestic heating.
Smoke can be a trigger for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. It’s important to be prepared and know how to respond when you are exposed to smoke. To speak to someone call Asthma Australia on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462), or visit the National Asthma Council for information on bushfires and asthma.
