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36 Pit Fire
Air Quality Report for 9/22/14
Smoke from the 36 Pit Fire drifted southeast yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and evening and resulted in elevated PM2.5 values at the air quality monitor in Madras, although health warning levels did not exceed Moderate at that location.  Today transport winds will push smoke to the northeast to east.  As fire activity moderates, smoke will not loft as high as the last two days so we expect primarily localized air quality impacts in areas near the fire, especially in the Clackamas river valley and possibly as far as the Deschutes river valley.  The fire may receive a little rain on Tuesday with a higher likelihood of rain on Wednesday which will greatly help firefighting efforts.  We don’t expect serious air quality impacts but will remain vigilant.
36 Pit Fire Report (prepared by Mike Broughton/Janice Peterson, Air Resource Advisors)­­­­

Air Quality Outlook (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)
Site
Monday
afternoon
Sept 22, 2014
Monday
night
Sept 22, 2014
Tuesday
Sept 23, 2014
Wednesday
Sept 24, 2014
Estacada
Good
Good becoming Moderate
Moderate in am becoming Good
Good
Hwy 26 Corridor
(Sandy to Rhododendron)
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
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