Skip to main content

Deception Fire-Air Quality Report and Outlook for 9/19/14


 
Yesterday, the Air Quality Index was “GOOD” for the communities of Oakridge and Westfir, as cooler temperatures and sporadic moisture kept any heavy smoke impacts out of the area.  These cooler, moister conditions also aided the firefighters in their mop-up efforts. 
Today, temperatures will gradually warm up and cloud cover will slowly decrease. This afternoon, light winds out of the north will push smoke in a southerly direction.  Smoke impacts to the communities of Oakridge and Westfir should be “ MODERATE” to “ GOOD”, as the day moves on.  As the fire continues to smolder, burning the larger dead and down vegetation, people may see and smell smoke periodically.
Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather. If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur.
Deception Complex Smoke Report (prepared by Claudia Standish, Air Resource Advisor)­­­­­
­­­­­
Air Quality Forecast for Friday (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)

Site
Friday Morning
Sep 19, 2014
Friday Afternoon
Sep 19, 2014
Friday Evening
Sep 19, 2014
Oakridge
Moderate
Good
Good
Westfir
Moderate
Good
Good
 
Deception Fire 24-hour Average PM 2.5 Concentrations for Friday, 9.19.2014


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