Deception Complex Air Quality Report Tuesday September 16, 2014

Monday, fire operations remained the same as yesterdays, control and mop. Fire stayed in the box overnight, with smoke filling low laying areas most until early afternoon.  Smoke started lift around 1:00 PM, and the fire became active started with surface heating.  After sunset, down slope winds pushed smoke down Deception creek towards Highway 58.  The Westfir recorded ” Unhealthy” levels of PM over night and early morning, while Oakridge recorded  for only a short period “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”. Early afternoon smoke rolled into the Middle Fork Ranger Station for a short period, air quality was in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” AQI level.

Today’s smoke will transport to the northeast, in the morning, the winds will transition to the southwest in afternoon.  Forecast for cooler temperatures and higher humidity, and a chance of wetting rain later in the week, may reduce interior fire interior and smoke production.  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 “USG”  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	Tuesday Morning Sep 16, 2014	Tuesday Afternoon Sep 16, 2014	Tuesday Evening Sep 16, 2014
Oakridge	Moderate	USG	Moderate
Westfir	USG	USG	Moderate

Deception Complex 24-Hour Average PM 2.5 Concentrations Tuesday September 16, 2104