Skip to main content

Smoke Forecasts for Blanket Creek and Spruce Lake Fires -- Aug. 15, 2017

Smoke Outlook:  High Cascades Complex                                 
Issued for: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 
Air Resource Advisor: Trent Wickman (twickman@fs.fed.us)


Fire
Blanket Creek Fire – Minimal fire spread is expected.  Water was dropped on the fire yesterday to keep fire behavior minimal.
Spruce Lake Fire – Minimal fire spread is expected as it finds scattered pockets of fuels.
New starts continue to pop up in the area.

Smoke
Winds generally from the northeast in the late evening through early morning then winds will become northwest.  The number of small fires in the area are leading to a general low level haze.

Smoke can be expected to move towards the southeast in the afternoon.  In the evening the smoke will drain down the valleys such as: the Wood River toward Chiloquin and Klamath Falls and the Upper Rouge towards Prospect and Shady Cove.  

Tourists at Crater Lake National Park will be able to view and smell smoke. Visitors should check for road closures and other announcements ahead of time.  Visitors can check https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm for updates.

Air Quality Outlook
Sites with air quality monitors
Site
Monday
August 14, 2017
Tuesday
August 15, 2017
Wednesday
August 16, 2017
Notes for Tuesday’s forecast
Ashland
Moderate
Good
Good

Medford
Moderate
Good
Good

Shady Cove
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Periods of good, overall moderate
Prospect
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Crater Lake NP (visitor center)
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Chiloquin
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity. AQI estimates for sites do not represent a full 24-hour time period.  Instead they reflect a period of time within the day where smoke impacts would be greatest.
AQI Index
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good
None

Moderate
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups*- USG
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           
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

Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous
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

*Sensitive Groups include people with heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women and older adults






Oregon Smoke Blog:
Oregon Dept of Environmental Quality
Blanket Creek Fire Information