LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reminded Nebraskans burning season has begun in Kansas, Oklahoma, and other states in the region, including Nebraska. Air quality in Nebraska can be impacted due to the smoke of these fires.
DHHS will again use the public smoke advisory system, developed in 2018, this year. Smoke advisories will be made when conditions make it likely smoke from the wildfires and burning could affect the air quality in Nebraska.
The DHHS, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), local health departments and districts, and information from multiple sources in the region develop the advisories.
Large areas of Flint Hills rangeland in Kansas and Oklahoma are burned to manage and conserve grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands. Agricultural, Conservation Reserve Program, and public lands in the region also have prescribed burning. This practice can reduce hazardous fuel loads, restore and preserve natural wildlife habitats, provide better forage for cattle, and control invasive plant species. Prescribed burning limits the risks of wildfires and helps manage rangeland resources.
When prescribed burning takes place, landowners consider weather conditions because weather can influence how much the air quality is compromised. In a normal year, around 2.4 million acres are burned in the Flint Hills region. In 2022, almost 2.1 million acres were burned and Nebraska saw eight days of moderate air quality because of the wind conditions.
The fuel load this year is just slightly above normal across the Flint Hill region, however variation is dependent on grazing practices. Conditions vary from abnormally dry to extreme drought, which could decrease the number of acres burned this season.
Air quality could be impacted based on the type, size, and location of fire. Impacts from prescribed burning could last a few hours, where wildfire smoke can last days. Other factors, such as weather conditions, can affect the length of air quality impacts.
If state and local agencies say the smoke is going to impact the air quality in Nebraska significantly, the DHHS and NDEE will issue an advisory to give information to the public. Advisories will be based on data provided by sources in the region, including the National Weather Service and smoke plume modeling and data from air quality monitors in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff. Advisories will be posted on the NDEE website, the DHHS website, and on the NDEE and DHHS Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department and the Douglas County Health Department may give information to advise citizens about the air quality impacts in their respective counties.
Smoke can cause health problems, such as burning eyes, runny nose, coughing, and illnesses like bronchitis. People with respiratory issues, such as asthma or COPD, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, along with children and the elderly can experience worse symptoms.
Nebraskans can protect their health on days when smoke is affecting their communities by keeping doors and windows closed and run air conditioners with HEPA filters, staying hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor exercise, remaining indoors if you have respiratory or heart-related illnesses, and contacting the doctor if symptoms, such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue, occur.
AirNow is a tool that uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to report air conditions across the country. The AQI uses the following color chart to quickly communicate air quality.
For current air quality conditions in Nebraska and a forecast for tomorrow, visit www.airnow.gov. For information on smoke awareness, visit NDEE’s website.
