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08/16/2015 Air Quality Smoke Report for SW Oregon

Air Quality Report for Southwest Oregon                     Issued for August 16, 2015
Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests     Time: 10:30am

Smoke Synopsis:
Yesterday: Widespread light smoke impacts across SW Oregon but did not exceed Moderate levels at any monitors. Crescent Fire continues to be the leading smoke producer in SW Oregon with contributions from Collier Butte and Stouts.
Today: Light wind speeds (<5mph) are expected today and tomorrow. There will be a sense of directional flow missing for smoke plumes. Therefore, smoke plumes will be influenced by terrain and convective heating. The exception will be Collier Butte. Its smoke will experience a northerly wind pushing smoke south while the Crescent and Stout Fires will display more variability in plume directional spread. This creates the opportunity for local smoke pooling and thus soupy conditions for next two days. Burnouts will continue as weather and fuel conditions permit. Smoke dispersion will depend on your location and shape of terrain. Tiller is expected to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Shady Cove and Prospect areas are projected at Moderate levels, while the rest of SW Oregon is projected at Good Level. Crater Lake NP is being impacted by Crescent Fire smoke at times, part of National Creek Complex. Check NPS webcams for air quality status. http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Tomorrow:  Stagnating conditions and low wind speeds will lead deteriorating air quality particularly in areas in closer proximity to fire activity.
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 15th
Today
August 16th
Tomorrow
August 17th
Comments
Cave Junction
Good
Good
Good

Grants Pass
Good
Good
Good

Klamath Falls
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Potential impact from Stout & Crescent Fire burnouts
Medford
Moderate
Good
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
Moderate
Moderate
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
Good
USG
USG
North wind flow should help improve air quality
Prospect 16
No data
Moderate
Unheathy
Potential impact from Crescent Fire burnout, Station 16 is demobed & sent back for service
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