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Smoke Forecast for High Cascades Complex Fires (Including Blanket Creek, Broken Lookout, Spruce Lake) -- Aug. 21, 2017

Smoke Outlook:  High Cascades Complex                                 
Issued for: Monday, August 21, 2017 
Air Resource Advisor: Jen Croft

Fire Activity:  Continued internal smoldering and large woody debris will contribute to the visible smoke in the geographic area.  Blanket fire grew an additional 220 acres, Broken Lookout added 383 acres, Sherwood 2 grew six acres, and Spruce Lake filled in an additional 38 acres of its identified perimeter.  The remaining fires within the complex have been fully contained and two of the fires reached controlled status.

Smoke:  The arrival of ESE winds in the morning will bring a chance of clearing conditions during the eclipse event, pushing stagnant haze into a mixing wind.  WNW winds are expected to return in the afternoon along with an unstable air mass which may allow for some additional fire activity and smoke production. 

Late afternoon conditions will see the return of widespread geographic haze around 1pm as the N-NE winds push smoke from the Umpqua North and HWY 97 corridor back into the area.  Highest areas of smoke concentrations for Monday evening will be Prospect, Chemult, Chiloquin, and campgrounds near Crater Lake.

Tourists at Crater Lake National Park can expect to see 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 21, 2017
Tuesday
August 22, 2017
Wednesday
August 23, 2017
Notes for Saturday’s forecast
Oakridge
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Medford
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate

Shady Cove
USG
USG
USG
Most severe impacts in the late afternoon/overnight
Prospect
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Most severe impacts in the late afternoon/overnight
Crater Lake NP (visitor center)
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Most severe impacts in the late afternoon/overnight
Chiloquin
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Most severe impacts in the late afternoon/overnight
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