Air Quality



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August 10, 2014

Central OR & JDICC Wildfire Air Quality Summary Report
Prepared by Andrea Holland, Air Resource Advisor

   Air Quality Outlook
Yesterday afternoon the South Fork Complex fire burned into heavy fuels producing a high smoke column that was carried north by upper level winds into Morrow County.  Smoke modeling indicates that the source of elevated particulate levels in Baker was the Cougar Fire burning south of Lewiston, ID. 
Today and tomorrow, an inversion will persist through late morning to early afternoon, holding in any smoke accumulated over night in valley communities.  Winds are expected to drive the South Fork Complex fire into heavy unburned fuels producing significant smoke in the mid to late afternoon both today and tomorrow. South to southeast winds will push smoke towards Dayville, Mitchell, Paulina and possibly as far as Prineville.  John Day may see moderate impacts from the Bald Sisters fire.  Communities along the Deschutes River valley, especially Bend and northwards, may experience hazy skies in the early evening for both days. 
Overnight, smoke is expected to settle into valley communities near the fires such as Dayville, John Day and Paulina.
Site
August 9
AQI
August 10
AQI
August 11
AQI
Remarks
Bend
Good
Good
Good

Burns
Good
Good
Good

Dayville
No data
Moderate
Moderate
Smoky off and on through Sunday
Madras
Good
Good
Good

John Day
Good
Moderate
Moderate
Smoke impacts mostly over night and morning
Paulina
No data
Moderate
Moderate
Smoky off and on through Sunday
Prineville
Good
Moderate
Moderate
Smoke impacts expected late afternoon Sunday
Seneca
Good (est)
Good
Good

Sisters
Good
Good
Good

Unity
No data
Good
Good

PLEASE NOTE: The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy.  AQI’s estimated for sites with USFS air monitors.
Air Quality Index
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
None
Moderate
Air quality is acceptable for most.  There may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.
People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
People with heart or lung disease, children or older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.
The following groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity: people with heart or lung disease, children and older adults.  Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Very Unhealthy
Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous
Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.
The following groups should remain indoors and keep activity levels low: people with heart or lung disease, children and older adults.  Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
For more information visit www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx

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August 8, 2014
Central OR & JDICC Wildfire Air Quality Summary Report
Prepared by Andrea Holland, Air Resource Advisor

   Air Quality Outlook
Yesterday’s northerly winds drove smoke from the Murderers Creek South Fire  (south of Dayville) towards Burns resulting in unhealthy air quality conditions.  Today, weak surface winds will hold inversions (and smoke in affected valleys) through the early to mid-afternoon in areas closest to the South Fork Complex and Bald Sisters Fires.  Late this afternoon surface winds are expected to shift and come more from the west/northwest.  High temperatures with low humidity will persist and likely will result in a similar number of acres burned within the South Fork Complex and Bald Sisters Fires.   Smoke from these fires may drift this afternoon and into the evening  into Johns Day, Seneca, Prairie City and other surrounding communities.  Tonight smoke will linger overnight in downwind low-lying valley areas and into the morning, dispersing with expected winds Friday afternoon.

Site
August 6
AQI
August 7
AQI
August 8
AQI
Remarks
Bend
Good
Good
Good

Burns
Unhealthy
Moderate
Moderate

Madras
Good
Good
Good

John Day
Good
Moderate
Moderate

Prineville
Good
Good
Good

Seneca
No data
Moderate
Moderate
Smokey on 8/6; expect same 8/7
Sisters
Good
Good
Good

PLEASE NOTE: The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy.
Air Quality Index
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
None
Moderate
Air quality is acceptable for most.  There may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.
People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
People with heart or lung disease, children or older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.
The following groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity: people with heart or lung disease, children and older adults.  Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Very Unhealthy
Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous
Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.
The following groups should remain indoors and keep activity levels low: people with heart or lung disease, children and older adults.  Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.







For more information visit www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx

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