Air Quality Report # 11 for Southwest Oregon Issued:
August 18, 2015
Smoke Synopsis:
Yesterday: Smoke impacts across SW Oregon increased yesterday raising
levels to moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Burnouts at the Crescent
and Stouts Creek Fires contributed to impacts along with smoke from the
Collier Butte Fire and background smoke from other fires in the region.
Today: Light wind speeds (<5mph)
and hot temperatures continue. With no
firm directional flow and overall stagnate conditions, smoke impacts today
will be similar to yesterday. Burnouts are planned on the Crescent Fire if weather
and fuel conditions permit. Smoke dispersion in the Hwy 199, 99, & I-5
horseshoe is dependent on your location and shape of terrain. Crater Lake NP continues to be impacted
by Crescent Fire. Smoke conditions can be seen by viewing the NPS webcams for
air quality status. http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Tomorrow: Gradual
improvement in air quality is expected to begin tomorrow although some areas
will remain elevated. As the surface high pressure moves to the east, there
will be improved dispersion of smoke with a change in wind direction and
increased wind speed. Areas immediately downwind of fires will be most
affected by smoke.
|
Prepared by Air Resource
Advisors: Gary Curcio (252-624-7635, gary.curcio@gmail.com), Janice
Peterson (206-484-4353, jlpeterson@fs.fed.us) and Michael
McGown (208-994-1316, mcgown.michael@epa.gov))
Air Quality Outlook:
Location
|
Yesterday 8/17/2015
|
Today 8/18/2015
|
Tomorrow 8/19/2015
|
Comments
|
Cave Junction
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
|
Grants Pass
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
|
Klamath Falls
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Medford
|
USG
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Provolt
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Shady Cove
|
USG
|
USG
|
USG
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Eagle Point 19
|
USG
|
USG
|
Moderate
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Jacksonville 215
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Ashland 84
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
Potential
impact from Crescent Fire burnout
|
Tiller 23
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
No
burnouts planned on the Stouts Fire
|
Prospect
16
|
No Data
|
USG
|
Moderate
|
modeled
data only
|
Agness
|
No Data
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
modeled
data only
|
Gold Beach
|
No Data
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
modeled
data only
|
Brookings
|
No Data
|
USG
|
Good
|
modeled
data only
|
AQI
Category
(PM2.5 µg/m3) |
Potential
Health Impacts
|
Actions to
Protect Yourself
|
Good (0-12)
|
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 – USG (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, 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.
|
Hazardous (>250)
|
The
entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health
effects.
|
The
following groups should remain indoors and keep activity levels low: People
with heart or lung disease; children and older adults. Everyone else should
avoid prolonged or heavy exertion
|
Learn more
at: a) Oregon Smoke Blog http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
b) AirNow http://airnow.gov and http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires
c) Oregon
DEQ Air monitoring http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx