Opposition to Prescribed Burns Essay -- Fires Health Essays

Opposition to Prescribed Burns Forest fires kill many animals and commonly destroy a large amount of land. Prescribed burn down wait like they would be the best idea, but are they? Their claim to fame is to clear proscribed land in order to decrease the burning space for when an actual forest fire occurs. Yet this may seem like a fantabulous idea, but one must look at the negative aspects of controlled burnings. People might have a change of heart when they realize the damages and make of such an interesting act. Keep in mind that not only is your health involved but even such things as the inconvenience of traffic with a smoky town. It is important to understand that prescribed burns cause unplayful health problems especially to firefighters these are concerning carbon monoxide toxicanting, visibility issues and health risks that pull up stakes affect the future. Carbon monoxide is a major component in smoke from fires. It can cause a loss of me ntal acuity, acute nausea and severe headaches (Reinhardt 33). Death can occur at extreme levels of this intoxication and it can even cause shortness of breath and dizziness (Reinhardt 35). It may not seem like it is that bad, but one must consider that these things add up and can really affect their health and well-being. The carbon monoxide levels tend to shoot up when the wind speed goes up during daily icon (U.S. Department of Agriculture 3). It also depends on what kind of duties you have as a firefighter because those with the highest level of carbon monoxide in their system were a part of the direct attack and those with the least were the fire starters (U.S. Department of Agriculture 3). Carbon monoxide is a powerful poison that can kill you and it is absolut... ... but when your lungs collapse later in your life because you inhaled too much carbon monoxide you might regret the thought of prescribed burns. whole shebang CitedBlakeman, Scott. 911 picture. Photograph. 2001. 14 November 2004 http//www.scottblakeman.com/ firefighters.gif.Reinhardt, Timothy E. Monitoring firefighter exposure to air toxins at prescribed burns of forest and range biomass. Portland Forest Service, 1991.Reinhardt, Timothy E. Smoke exposure among firefighters at prescribed burns in the Pacific Northwest. Portland Forest Service, 2000.Shifting Sands. Prescribed Burn. Photogragh. 2002. 15 November 2004 U.S. Department of Agriculture. Smoke exposure at prescribed burns a study on the effects of smoke exposure on firefighters at prescribed burns. Portland Forest Service, 1995.