DEQ issues air quality advisory for Salem

	Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
	News Release
Release date:  Sept. 15, 2016 Contacts: Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-686-7997, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us

DEQ issues air quality advisory for Salem

Salem, OR – Air quality in Salem is being adversely impacted by a fire at Brown’s Island Compost Facility and other fires in the area and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is urging residents in certain groups to take precautions.

Air quality readings for the last 24 hours at the Salem State Hospital monitor are yellow or moderate meaning air quality may pose a risk to those unusually sensitive to air pollution. Earlier in the day the 24-hour readings were orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups. When readings are orange, people with heart disease or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Although air quality in the Salem area is currently in the moderate range, conditions could change due to weather and changes in fire activity.

Visit the Air Quality Index for the latest one- and 24-hour air quality readings. To sign up for air quality alerts in your area visit AirNow’s Enviroflash.

High smoke levels can create health problems for even healthy people so remember to limit your exposure to smoke by keeping windows and doors closed, reducing the time you spend in smoky areas and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity. The elderly, children and those with respiratory diseases can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of smoke.

Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog for more information on air quality, along with tools to help you assess smoke levels in their area. The site is an effort by city, county, tribal, state and federal agencies to provide information for Oregon 

Sept. 14 Air Quality Report for Gap Fire -- Klamath National Forest

Fire Information:  Fire is approximately 33,867 acres and 95% contained.   No additional perimeter fire growth occurred. The last two days had red flag warnings issued for strong gusty winds, those days were a good test to the fire and no significant fire activity occurred.   Islands of unburned fuel within the perimeter will continue to burn however it appears fire activity has been reduced to smoldering.  On all sides of the fire, crews are working on mop up and patrol of fire lines where safe to do so, along with pulling hose and equipment no longer needed on the fire line.  Suppression repair is also progressing along contingency lines and where needed.  Yesterday only small smoke columns were observed with a haze seen across the fire.                                                                                                                                                         Weather and Smoke Information:   No red flags have been issued for today.  Winds will be out of the northwest but will not be as strong as they were yesterday.  Ridgetops winds will range from 3-6 miles per hour (mph) in the morning then increase to 5-10 mph with gust up to 15 mph in the afternoon.  Temperatures will be 79-83 degrees with humidity values at 12-18% in the valleys.  Smoke production has been significantly reduced over the last few days.  All locations are expected to see Good conditions with the exception of Anderson/ Redding where Moderate conditions have been observed.
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) Impacts from the Gap Fire
Site	Observed Midnight-Midnight 09/13/16		Forecast 09/14/16	Outlook 09/15/16	Worst Time of Day Impacts AQI and Period
Grants Pass	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Medford/ Ashland	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Klamath Falls	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Oak Knoll RS	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon and evening.
Seiad	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Happy Camp	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Yreka	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Fort Jones	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the late afternoon and evening.
Orleans	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Weitchpec	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Hoopa	Unavailable		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Weed	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Redding/Anderson	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Red Bluff	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies.
Colors displayed above correspond roughly with the AQI chart below.  Conditions may change quickly, these projections are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  Sensitive groups including individuals with Asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. If you feel as though you are having health effects from smoke see your doctor or health professional as needed. In some cases your eyes are your best tools, if it is smoky outside you are being impacted. Use caution when driving in or around smoky areas.
AQI Index		Actions to Protect Yourself
Good		None
Moderate		Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG		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		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		Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous		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

Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke.  Contributions from ozone and other pollutants are not reflected.

Links: California Smoke Blog - http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/

Sept. 13 Air Quality Report for Gap Fire -- Klamath National Forest

Fire Information:  Fire is approximately 33,867 acres and 85% contained.   No additional perimeter fire growth occurred; growth is all interior acres within the control lines. Yesterday’s strong gusty winds were a good test to the fire and no significant fire activity occurred.   Islands of unburned fuel within the perimeter will continue to burn however it appears fire activity has been reduced to smoldering.  On all sides of the fire, crews are working on mop up and patrol of fire lines where safe to do so, along with pulling hose and equipment no longer needed on the fire line.  A reduction of smoke is expected as the interior islands of unburned fuel get consumed.                                                                                                                                                         Weather and Smoke Information:   Winds will continue to be easterly but will not be as strong as they were yesterday.  Winds will range from 10-15 miles per hour (mph) with gust to 25 mph on ridgetops and then 4-8 mph with gusts to 12 mph in the afternoon.  Temperatures will be 82-87 degrees with humidity values at 10-16% in the valleys.  Smoke production has been significantly reduced over the last few days.  All locations are expected to see Good conditions with the exception of Anderson/ Redding where Moderate conditions have been observed.
Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) Impacts from the Gap Fire
Site	Observed Midnight-Midnight 09/12/16		Forecast 09/13/16	Outlook 09/14/16	Worst Time of Day Impacts AQI and Period
Grants Pass	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Medford/ Ashland	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Klamath Falls	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Oak Knoll RS	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon and evening.
Seiad	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Happy Camp	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Yreka	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Fort Jones	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the late afternoon and evening.
Orleans	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Weitchpec	Good		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Hoopa	Unavailable		Good	Good	Expect elevated concentrations in the afternoon.
Weed	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies in the evening and overnight.
Redding/Anderson	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Expect elevated concentrations in the morning.
Red Bluff	Good		Good	Good	May see hazy skies.
Colors displayed above correspond roughly with the AQI chart below.  Conditions may change quickly, these projections are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  Sensitive groups including individuals with Asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. If you feel as though you are having health effects from smoke see your doctor or health professional as needed. In some cases your eyes are your best tools, if it is smoky outside you are being impacted. Use caution when driving in or around smoky areas.
AQI Index		Actions to Protect Yourself
Good		None
Moderate		Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG		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		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		Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous		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

Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke.  Contributions from ozone and other pollutants are not reflected.

Links: California Smoke Blog - http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/