All smoke can have adverse health effects, but it’s important to remember the differences between these types of smoke events.

Prescribed fire plans created by local, state, and federal officials must meet specific air quality requirements designed to limit smoke exposure to nearby  communities. Officials will only implement their burn plan under very specific and safe conditions. Prescribed burning is usually planned for wetter/mild conditions, while wildfire smoke is often being produced during fire season, when conditions may be hot, dry, and windy.

Not only this, but prescribed burning is often more controlled by the amounts of fuels that can burn (organic materials on the landscape). Wildfires can engulf non-organic materials, such as structures and building materials, which can release different air pollutants.

Check out your local fire protection district for more information about prescribed burns happening in your area. Apps like WatchDuty and IncidiWeb can also share where prescribed burning may be happening in your area.

University of Nevada extension office compares it like this: If prescribed  fire smoke were equivalent to lighting a match,  then wildfire smoke would be like lighting a  bonfire.  

Prescribed Fire vs. Wildfire Smoke