Prescribed Burning in the WUI: PM Household Infiltration

SEAN BENJAMIN, Evan Coffey, Michael Schaezlein, Malena Toups, Michael Hannigan, University of Colorado Boulder

     Abstract Number: 504
     Working Group: Burning Questions of Aerosol Emissions, Chemistry, and Impacts from Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

Abstract
Due to the rise in the frequency and damage of Wildland Urban Interface fires, there has been increased interest in prescribed burning as a wildfire mitigation tool. However, there are risks associated with prescribed burning including smoke impacts on nearby residents. As prescribed burns are often located near residential areas to protect those communities from future uncontrolled wildfires, the smoke from these prescribed fires can travel the short distance and infiltrate homes. We use custom low cost sensor monitoring packages to investigate the particulate matter (PM 2.5) infiltration into residences near prescribed fires and the relative impact that fire size, environmental conditions, and effective home age have on this infiltration.