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8/19/15: SW Oregon Air Quality Report


Air Quality Report # 12 for Southwest Oregon                                                                                            

Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests                                                                                       

Smoke Synopsis: 

Yesterday: SW Oregon experienced elevated smoke levels ranging from high moderate to Unhealthy. Burnouts at the Crescent, Stouts Creek, and Collier Butte Fires contributed to impacts. Stagnant conditions allowed background smoke from other fires in the region and residual smoke from previous days to also contribute to yesterday’s smoke levels.
Today: Smoke impacts remained significant throughout the morning hours, however, a change in the weather will result in the scouring of existing smoke in many areas as the day progresses. This will bring general improvement to air quality. Winds will increase and become northwesterly. Locations directly downwind from fires will see continued smoke impacts as the wind will move smoke across those areas.   Burnouts are planned on the Crescent Fire and Collier Butte fires if weather and fuel conditions permit. Crater Lake NP continues to be impacted by Crescent Fire due its proximity to the Crescent Fire and predicted winds. Smoke conditions can be seen by viewing the NPS webcams for air quality status. http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Tomorrow:  Improvement in air quality continues except in areas that are directly downwind from fire activity. As the surface high pressure moves to the east, there will be improved dispersion of smoke with a change in wind direction and increased wind speed. Areas immediately downwind of fires will be most affected by smoke.
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 8/18/2015
Today 8/19/2015
Tomorrow 8/20/2015
Comments
Cave Junction
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
 
Grants Pass
Moderate
Good
Good
 
Klamath Falls
Moderate
Moderate
USG
 
Medford
USG
Moderate
Good
 
Provolt
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
 
Shady Cove
USG
Moderate
USG
 
Eagle Point 19
Unhealthy
Moderate
Moderate
 
Jacksonville 215
Moderate
Good
Good
Jacksonville station will be shut down and reassigned to maintenance
Ashland 84
USG
Moderate
Moderate
 
Tiller 23
Unhealthy
USG
Moderate
Modeled data only, Tiller station has been reassigned to maintenance
Prospect  16
No Data
USG
USG
modeled data only
Agness
No Data
Good
Good
modeled data only
Gold Beach
No Data
Good
Good
modeled data only
Brookings
No Data
Good
Moderate
modeled data only

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:      a) Oregon Smoke Blog http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

                                    b) AirNow http://airnow.gov and http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires

                                    c) Oregon DEQ Air monitoring http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx