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Abstract
In April of 2007, wildfires erupted in southeastern Georgia near the municipality of Waycross. Area monitoring of particulate matter 2.5 m in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) was conducted in the communities surrounding the fire. The daily exposure levels and wind data were used to approximate exposure to the public. Eight of the 27 sampling locations were above the 35 g/m for PM2.5 deemed as harmful by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). No locations exceeded the 9 ppm average for 1-hour and 35 ppm average for 8-hour levels set forth by the EPA for CO. The two factors that have the most influence on exposure were the distance from the fire and duration downwind from the fire. Exposure to the general public was deemed as minimal given the use of public service announcements by local officials and evacuation of areas thought to be receiving large amounts of smoke or in the fires direct path.