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Wildfire Air Quality Forecast - August 12, 2014

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.
Site
August 11
AQI
August 12
Today AQI
August 13
AQI
Remarks
Bend
Good
Moderate
Good
Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
Burns
Good
Good
Good

Dayville
No data
Moderate
Good

Madras
Moderate
Moderate
Good
Modeling indicates Monday impacts from OR fires
John Day
Moderate
Moderate
Good

Paulina
No data
Moderate
Good

Prairie City
No data
Moderate
Good

Prineville
Good
Moderate
Good
Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
Seneca
Moderate(est)
Moderate
Good

Sisters
Good
Moderate
Good
Drift smoke from N.Calif fires expected today
Unity
No data
Moderate
Good

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.
Air Quality Index
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk
None
Moderate
Air quality is acceptable for most.  There may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.
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.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
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. 
Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.
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.
Very Unhealthy
Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
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.
Hazardous
Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.
Everyone should avoid all outdoor activity.  Relief from smoke is best accomplished by leaving for cleaner air.  Alternately, remain indoors  where air is clean.
For more information visit www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx