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The Oregon Smoke Blog has been de-activated until the 2015 wildfire season


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Race Day Forecast! Best Dam Race 10K!

Looking good today!  Calm winds, fog and light residual smoke can be expected close to the river around the start and initial leg of the course.  This should clear gradually as the sun climbs, the runners head down river, and mid to late-morning breezes begin to drift into the runners' faces.

Carpe Diem!

Forecast locations/concentrations of maximum smoke impacts:

10 am Saturday, September 27, 2014

 1 pm Saturday, September 27, 2014

4 pm Saturday, September 27, 2014

Friday update - Special Forecast for "Best Dam Run 10K" - Estacada area

Clearing skies and light winds Friday night could lead to some fog mixing with residual smoke in the Clackamas River valley, reducing visibility Saturday morning.  As Saturday begins to warm up, smoke/fog is expected to clear from the north, moving up river.  Air quality levels at the start of the race are expected to be in the Moderate range [Air Quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people] and should improve throughout the day.

Below is an air quality chart for Estacada over the last week for comparison with what you may have observed in the area.

Special Forecast for the Best Dam Run 10K

We expect Saturday morning to be a little hazy and smoky at the start line at 10 am, clearing gradually as the runners/walkers continue north along the race route.  As always, use your best judgement to determine if conditions are favorable for your planned level of exertion.

Smoke forecasts for the areas of highest impact are presented below - darker colors indicating the highest concentration of smoke.  Models are calling for improved conditions along the race route for Saturday morning, but some residual smoke may still be present in the river valley.

3 pm Thursday, September 25, 2014

 8 am Friday, September 26, 2014

 8 am Saturday, September 27, 2014

Noon Saturday, September 27, 2014

36 Pit Fire - Smoke and Air Quality Report for 9/25/14

36 Pit Fire Smoke and Air Quality Report for 9/25/14

So we had our rain and that has moderated fire activity greatly. HOWEVER, large fuels in the forest continue to smolder; smoke will still be produced, noticeable primarily as a general haziness in the skies rather than as a distinct smoke plume.  Air quality in the areas 10-20 miles around the fire are still expected to be at Moderate levels, and may reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups at some times, particularly early to mid-mornings, clearing some by afternoon.

36 Pit Fire Report (prepared by Mike Broughton, Air Resource Advisor)­­­­

Air Quality Outlook (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)

Site	Thursday Afternoon Sept 25, 2014	Thursday night Sept 25, 2014	Friday Sept 26, 2014	Saturday Sept 27, 2014
Estacada, Springwater, Dodge	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Hwy 26 Corridor (Sandy to Rhododendron)	Moderate	Good	Good	Good
Molalla	Good	Good	Good	Good
Willamette Valley	Good	Good	Good	Good

AQI Index (µg/m3)	Potential Health Impacts	Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.	None
Moderate (13-35)	Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (36-55)	Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.	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 (56-150)	Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.	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 (151-250)	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.

For more information see the Oregon Smoke blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx

Deception Fire - Air Quality Report & Outlook for Wednesday 9/24/14

Deception Fire Air Quality Report & Outlook for Wednesday 9/24/14

Clean air dominated on Tuesday night.  Air quality in the Westfir/Deception Creek and Oakridge area had readings in the “GOOD” range. Tuesday, the Westfir/Deception Creek and Oakridge monitors had readings in the “GOOD” range.  Most of the smoke stayed above ground level though occasionally, one could smell smoke in both communities. Today’s rain, which started in the early morning hours, will mitigate fire behavior and less smoke will be produced. The air quality is expected to be GOOD” today , tonight and tomorrow. Smoke is still being produced on the fire from the smoldering of large logs, stumps and organic material on the forest floor.  But the rain will assist in the continued mop-up efforts on the fire. Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather.   If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur.

Deception Smoke Report (prepared by Claudia Standish, Air Resource Advisor)­­­­­

Air Quality Forecast for Wednesday, 9.24.2014

 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)

	Site		Wednesday Morning Sept. 24, 2014	Wednesday Afternoon Sept. 24, 2014		Wednesday Evening Sept. 24, 2014
	Oakridge		Good	Good		Good
	Westfir &  Deception Creek Drainage		Good	Good		Good
AQI Index (µg/m3)		Potential Health Impacts			Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)		Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.			None
Moderate (13-35)		Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.			Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

For more information see the Oregon Smoke blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx

36 Pit Fire Smoke and Air Quality Report for 9/24/14

36 Pit Fire Smoke and Air Quality Report for 9/24/14

Rain, over 68,000,000 gallons of it spread out over the fire thus far today (and it’s only 8 am and there’s more coming)!  Some smoke will still be produced, but no significant air quality impacts are expected over the forecast period.

36 Pit Fire Report (prepared by Mike Broughton, Air Resource Advisor)­­­­

Air Quality Outlook (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)

Site	Wednesday Sept 24, 2014	Wednesday night Sept 24, 2014	Thursday Sept 25, 2014	Friday Sept 26, 2014
Estacada, Springwater, Dodge	Good	Good to Moderate	Good	Good
Hwy 26 Corridor (Sandy to Rhododendron)	Good	Good	Good	Good
Molalla	Good	Good	Good	Good
Willamette Valley	Good	Good	Good	Good

AQI Index (µg/m3)	Potential Health Impacts	Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.	None
Moderate (13-35)	Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

For more information see the Oregon Smoke blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx