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Deception Complex smoke update for 9/8/14

Yesterday’s operations protected the perimeter along the northern edge to limit fire growth. The burnout operations combined with continued burning of interior islands resulted in an additional smoke production during yesterday’s shift. Some of the smoke from yesterday descended causing elevated PM concentrations Monday morning.  From Dexter east to Oakridge nighttime and early morning surface concentrations were a bit elevated. Smoke also flowed down the Deception creek drainage affecting the Westfir community last night and early morning. Oakridge smoke conditions remained moderate throughout the day and night times.
Today’s winds will be easterly in the morning switching to north-west winds by the afternoon. Smoke will start to lift by early afternoon, and the burn team will begin burnout operations on the north and west perimeters.  Smoke will linger all day from Dexter to Oakridge as smoke drifts down valley. By the afternoon winds will increase and switch to the northwest moving smoke to the southeast.    The communities of Eugene and Cottage Grove will continue to be impacted by smoke from the Yellow Pine fire. We forecast the air quality to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in Westfir as smoke vents down the Deception Creek drainage this afternoon, and “Moderate” for Oakridge into the evening as smoke pools with cooling temperatures.

Air Quality Forecast for Monday (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)


Site
Monday Morning
Sep 8, 2014
Monday Afternoon
Sep 8, 2014
Monday Evening
Sep 8, 2014
Oakridge
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Moderate
Moderate
Westfir
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Moderate
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Dexter
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

24 hour average PM 2.5 concentrations from Deception Complex
Monday September 8, 2014