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Deception Fire - Air Quality Report & Outlook for Tuesday 9/23/14

Deception Fire

Air Quality Report & Outlook for Tuesday 9/23/14
Monday during the day, smoky skies were localized to the fire. The Westfir/Deception Creek and Oakridge monitors had readings in the “Good” range.  Most of the smoke stayed above ground level though one could smell smoke occasionally in both communities.  Smelling smoke does not necessarily imply that air quality conditions are bad. (Yesterday was a good example of this as one could smell the smoke off and on in the town of Oakridge, but monitor readings were in the “Good” range.)
Monday night, an inversion set in above ground level, which was very visible over the fire area this morning.  Both Westfir/Deception Creek and Oakridge had readings in the “GOOD” range.
 
Today, Tuesday, mostly cloudy conditions will prevail with rain predicted for tonight and tomorrow.  Winds will pick up out of the southwest during the day pushing smoke in a northeasterly direction.   Expect “Good” smoke conditions today and tonight.
Smoke is still being produced on the fire from the smoldering of large logs, stumps and organic material on the forest floor.
Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather.   If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur.

Deception Complex Smoke Report (prepared by Claudia Standish, Air Resource Advisors)­­­­­
Air Quality Forecast for Tuesday, 9.3.2014
 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter)

Site
Tuesday Morning
Sept. 23, 2014
Tuesday Afternoon
Sept. 23, 2014
Tuesday Evening
Sept. 23, 2014


Oakridge
Good
Good
Good


Westfir
(@the Deception Creek Drainage)
Good
Good
Good

AQI Index (µg/m3)
Potential Health Impacts
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good (0-12)
Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.
None

Moderate (13-35)
Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive people.
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (36-55)
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
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
(56-150)
Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.
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
(151-250)
Triggers a health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects
Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
For more information see the Oregon Smoke blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Air Quality data can be viewed at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx