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Deception Fire Air Quality Report and Outlook for 9/18/14


Yesterday “Moderate” impacts were localized to the communities around Oakridge and Westfir between 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The rest of the day the air quality index was “Good”. 
Rain is predicted for today as control and mop up continues on the fire. Clouds, cooler temperatures and rain will help fire operations and may reduce smoke production keeping most impacts close to the fire.  Although the moisture will reduce fire behavior, smoke in the nighttime and early morning hours may continue to follow the drainages, creating impacts.  Most of the smoke today will be above ground level from large logs and stumps that are still burning and smoldering.  There may be periods this afternoon when smoke is pushed by west/northwest winds so the communities of Westfir and Oakridge may experience impacts.
Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather.  If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur.
Deception Complex Smoke Report (prepared by Mark Fitch & Claudia Standish, Air Resource Advisors)­­­­­
Air Quality Forecast for Thursday, 9.18.14
 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)
Site
Thursday Morning
Sep 18, 2014
Thursday Afternoon
Sep 18, 2014
Thursday Evening
Sep 18, 2014
Oakridge
Moderate
Good
Moderate
Westfir
Moderate
Good
Moderate
 
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