Operation Smokewatch is about the community recording incidents of fires and smoke around Tasmania. The information from members of the public will be used by the community group "Operation Smokewatch" to lobby the government to protect human health.
Smoke smell and visibility are good indicators of very small smoke particles (PM 2.5). These particles are small enough to penetrate far into the lungs and cause significant harm to your health.
Keep a watch for smoke particularly in Autumn and Spring. If you see or smell smoke or see a fire, record your observations of smoke events using the following pattern:
- Date
- Area/city/town/suburb
- Time of smoke smell - in morning (SM), afternoon (SA), evening (SE) or night (SN).
- Health effects observed
- Fires known via observation (O) or websites (W)
- Nature of fire if known eg forestry, parks etc
Example 1 (actual incident)
- 23 March 2009
- Newstead Launceston
- SE
- Headaches
- Observation
- Nature - unknown
Example 2 (actual incident)
- 28 March 2009
- Patersonia
- SM, SE, SN
- Headaches outside, loss of voice by neighbour with lung condition
- Observation
- Nature - smoke from 3 fires at Burnie (listed on FIAT website)
Don't forget to log in to www.tapvision.info so you can upload your observations. Click on "add new comment".
