Central OR & JDICC Wildfire Air Quality Summary
Report
Prepared for August 12, 2014,
Andrea Holland, Air Resource Advisor
Air Quality Outlook
Yesterday saw
active fire behavior in both the South Fork Complex and Bald Sisters fires. Smoke lingered the nearby valley
communities including John Day, Dayville, and Prairie City. Seneca saw elevated concentrations
early morning through early afternoon with relief seen after the inversion
broke.
Today more rain is
expected after noon. Gusty winds
associated with thunderstorms may increase fire behavior and test fire
perimeters. This may be tempered
by the likelihood of lower temperatures and higher humidity, serving to decrease fire activity. Smoke from both the South Fork
Complex and Bald Sisters fires will likely remain more localized and impact
surrounding communities much as it has over the last week. There is a slight chance that Burns
may see drift smoke from the South Fork Complex fire late tonight.
Tomorrow will see
smoke lingering in valley communities around the South Fork Complex and Bald
Sisters fires lifting with a break in the inversion late morning to early
afternoon. Cooler temperatures
with high humidity and rainfall from Tuesday are expected to reduce fire
activity such that smoke production will remain more localized. Gusty winds are expected to clear out
the smoke in John Day, Seneca, Unity, Paulina and surrounding communities and
return to better air quality conditions.
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Site
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August 11
AQI
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August 12
Today AQI
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August 13
AQI
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Remarks
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Bend
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Good
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Moderate
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Good
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Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
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Burns
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Dayville
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No data
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Moderate
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Good
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Madras
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Good
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Modeling indicates Monday impacts from OR fires
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John Day
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Good
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Paulina
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No data
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Moderate
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Good
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Prairie City
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No data
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Moderate
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Good
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Prineville
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Good
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Moderate
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Good
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Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
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Seneca
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Moderate(est)
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Moderate
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Good
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Sisters
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Good
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Moderate
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Good
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Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
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Unity
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No data
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Moderate
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Good
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PLEASE NOTE: The air
quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not
been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy. AQI’s estimated for sites with USFS
air monitors.
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Air Quality Index
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Potential Health Impacts
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Actions to Reduce Smoke
Exposure
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Good
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Air quality
is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
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None
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Moderate
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Air quality
is acceptable for most. There
may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.
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Sensitive
individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children,
pregnant women, or older adults should limit time spend outdoors and avoid strenuous
outdoor activities.
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Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups
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Members of
sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
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Everyone
should avoid prolonged exposure to smoke. Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung
disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should minimize
exposure by staying inside where air is cleaner.
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Unhealthy
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Everyone may
begin to experience health effects.
These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.
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Everyone
should limit time spent outdoors and choose non-strenuous indoor
activities. Sensitive
individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children,
pregnant women, or older adults should stay indoors where air is clean.
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Very
Unhealthy
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Triggers
a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
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Everyone
should limit time spent outdoors and preferably stay indoors where air is
clean. Staying indoors is especially
important for sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease,
infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults.
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Hazardous
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Triggers
health warnings of emergency conditions. Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health
effects.
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Everyone
should avoid all outdoor activity.
Relief from smoke is best accomplished by leaving for cleaner
air. Alternately, remain
indoors where air is clean.
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