National Wildfire Coordinating Group

National Interagency Fire Center
3833 S. Development Avenue
Boise, ID 83705

In 2008, the NWCG Executive Board tasked the Risk Management Committee (known at that time as the Safety and Health Working Team) to develop monitoring protocols for smoke exposure in fire camps and recommend exposure baselines so Incident Management Teams can recognize potentially hazardous conditions and make appropriate management decisions (TM-2008-04).

After conducting extensive studies and consultation with smoke experts, NWCG accepts the Risk Management Committee’s recommendations and endorses the attached guidance as a tool for fire managers and responders to recognize and mitigate exposure to smoke.

NWCG acknowledges the complex nature of this issue and will continue efforts to develop surveillance and monitoring plans.

Within Attachment A, Guidance for Monitoring and Mitigating Exposure to Carbon Monoxide and Particulates at Incident Base Camps, you will find:

• A table describing signs and symptoms at various CO exposure levels
• Mitigation measures to reduce smoke exposure
• Baseline exposure levels for both fireline operations and base camp personnel.

Please give this report widespread coverage with fire managers and agency administrators.

Attachment A: Guidance for Monitoring and Mitigating Exposure to Carbon Monoxide and Particulates at Incident Base Camps.

Attachment B: Information and Ordering Guidelines for Smoke Monitoring Kit, NFES #5840

cc: NWCG Executive Board
NWCG Committee Chairs
Program Management Unit (PMU)
Budget Advisory Unit (BAU) Chair
Roy Johnson, OWF Deputy Director
Rod Bloms, OWF Program Analyst
National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)

back to the top