Deception Complex Air Quality Report Monday September 9/15/2014

 

Sunday, control and mop up fire operations were successful in keeping fire in the contained along the western perimeter. Smoke capped the fire in the morning, started lifting around 1:00 PM, and fire started creeping around once the smoke lifted.  After sunset, down slope winds pushed smoke down Deception creek towards Highway 58.  The Westfir and Oakridge, monitors recorded ” moderate” levels of PM over night and early morning for only a short period. Early afternoon smoke rolled into the Middle Fork Ranger Station for a short period, air quality was in the “unhealthy” AQI level.

Today’s smoke will transport to the east in the morning, the winds will transition to the west in afternoon.  The main weather feature that dominated the region the last few days is giving way to cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but before that, fire interior smoke production will incress due to  warm temperatures and dry conditions. Instability will help increase the mixing heights; thus, we can expect good smoke dispersion. We forecast the morning air quality to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in Westfir as smoke vents down the Deception Creek drainage, and “Moderate” for Oakridge. Air quality in the early afternoon may reach the “Unhealthy”  for a short period clearing to” Moderate” by early evening for Westfir and Oakridge.

Air Quality Forecast for Monday (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)
 

Site	Monday Morning Sep 15, 2014	Monday Afternoon Sep 15, 2014	Monday Evening Sep 15, 2014
Oakridge	Moderate	Unhealthy	Moderate
Westfir	USG	Unhealthy	Moderate

Deception Complex 24-Hour Average PM 2.5 Concentrations

Monday September 15, 2014