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See Smoke? Smell Smoke? Be in the Know.

Raelene Crandall, Lara Milligan, , David Godwin, and


Release Date: 5/4/2026

DOI: 10.32473/EDIS-FR487-2026

Natural Resources

Abstract

Smoke in the air may come from prescribed fires, wildfires, or burning trash. Prescribed fires are planned and set by trained professionals to keep forests healthy, support wildlife, and lower the risk of wildfires. Wildfires, by contrast, are unplanned and uncontrolled. They can create a great deal of smoke, especially in areas that haven’t burned for years. Smoke from any fire can be harmful to breathe, but websites like Whyprescribedfire.org and the Florida Forest Service Fire Response Viewer, as well as tools such as the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the AirNow digital app, help people monitor area fires and air quality; make smart choices; and stay safe on smoky days.

About this Publication

This document is FOR416, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 2026. Visit the Ask IFAS website at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. © 2026 UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

How to Cite

Crandall, R. M., Milligan, L., Bond, L. A., Godwin, D. R., & Rodgers, P. D. (2026). See Smoke? Smell Smoke? Be in the Know. EDIS, 2026(3). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fr487-2026

Authors

Raelene Crandall
Raelene Crandall
Specialist
University of Florida

associate professor, fire ecology, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL

Lara Milligan
Lara Milligan
County agent
University of Florida

Extension agent III, natural resources: water resources and wildlife, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County

Ludie A. Bond
Ludie A. Bond

wildfire mitigation specialist/public information officer, Florida Forest Service, Waccasassa Forestry Center, Gainesville, FL

former PhD student, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL

David Godwin
David Godwin
staff
University of Florida

education/training specialist III and Southern Fire Exchange Project coordinator, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Tallahassee, FL

Phillip Rodgers
Phillip Rodgers

PhD student, UF/IFAS School of Natural Resources and Environment, Gainesville, FL

Publication #FOR416

Peer Reviewed
General Public