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8/17/2015 Air Quality Smoke Report for SW Oregon

Air Quality Report for Southwest Oregon                     Issued for August 17, 2015
Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests     Time: 10:30am

Smoke Synopsis:
Yesterday: Once again the smoke impacts across SW Oregon did not exceed Moderate levels at any monitors with the exception of Eagle Point. Crescent and Collier Butte fires are equally the leading smoke producers in SW Oregon with contributions from Stout.
Today: Light wind speeds (<5mph) continue. With no firm directional flow, smoke plume movement will be dictated by terrain and convective heating. Best Air Quality will be from 1 pm to 6 pm. Collier Butte’s smoke affected by a north wind, will largely move South. Crescent and Stout Fires display more variability in plume directional spread. Thus creating opportunity for local smoke pooling and thus soupy conditions. This is why Eagle Point & Tiller are projected to experience the poorest air quality.  Burnouts continue as weather and fuel conditions permit. Smoke dispersion in the Hwy 199, 99, & I-5 horseshoe is dependent on your location and shape of terrain. Crater Lake NP continues to be impacted by Crescent Fire smoke at times. Smoke conditions can be seen by viewing the NPS webcams for air quality status. http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Tomorrow:  Stagnating conditions and low wind speeds will promote deteriorating air quality in areas in close proximity to fire activity. This is seen for Shady Grove, Prospect, Tiller, and Brookings.
Prepared by Air Resource Advisors: Gary Curcio (252-624-7635, gary.curcio@gmail.com),
Janice Peterson (206-484-4353,
jlpeterson@fs.fed.us) and
Michael McGown (208-994-1316,
mcgown.michael@epa.gov))

Air Quality Outlook:
Location
Yesterday
August 16th
Today
August 17th
Tomorrow
August 18th
                                           Comments
Cave Junction
Good
Good
Good

Grants Pass
Good
Good
Moderate

Klamath Falls
Good
Good
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Medford
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Provolt
Good
Good
Good

Shady Cove
Moderate
Moderate
USG
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Eagle Point 19
USG
USG
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Jacksonville 215
Good
Good
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Ashland 216
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Tiller 23
Moderate
USG
USG

Prospect 16
No data
Moderate
Unheathy
Potential impact from Crescent Fire burnout. No monitor present
Agness
No data
Good
Moderate
Added for & impacted by Collier Butte, modeled data only, no local monitors
Gold Beach
No data
Good
Moderate
Added for & impacted by Collier Butte, modeled data only, no local monitors
Brookings
No data
Moderate
USG
Added for & impacted by Collier butte, modeled data only, no local monitors
Disclaimer:  Air quality predictions reflect only fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Sensitive individuals including people with asthma or heart disease, infants, children, pregnant women and older adults should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. If you experience health effects from smoke, contact your doctor or health professional.

AQI Category
(PM2.5 µg/m3)
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)
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 – USG (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, 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.
Hazardous (>250)
The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health effects.
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
Learn more at:
b) Oregon DEQ Air monitoring http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx