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Aug. 15 Air Quality Report for Rail Fire -- Weather and Smoke Synopsis

A couple of days of mainly westerly flow aloft with some weak low pressure areas passing well to our south today.  Conditions will remain very warm and dry.  Surface inversion is predicted to lift around 11:00 AM.  With weak low pressure and instability moving in over the incident yesterday, crews were able to hold and improve existing lines and burnout lines.  Plan today is to deepen some of the blacklining in the southeast perimeter and hold and improve existing lines and burnout lines in the north to northeast.  The fire perimeter grew approximately 894 acres with a total of 16,288 acres.  Most growth was due to the main fire growing into burnout lines. Unity conditions in the morning will vary from Very Unhealthy to Hazardous  smoke levels but will become a Moderate level around 1:00PM.  Baker City, Burns, John Day, Prairie City and Vale will have Good smoke levels today. Prairie City and John Day may have Moderate smoke conditions early in the morning.  Expect smoke settling in overnight.
Air Quality Outlook
Sites with air quality monitor
Site
Yesterday Observed Midnight-Midnight   
August 14, 2016
Today Forecast  August 15, 2016
Tomorrow Outlook
August 16, 2016
Worse Time of Day Impacts

John Day
Good
Good
Good
Expect smoke Moderate smoke levels early in the morning turning to Good levels today and tonight.
Baker City
Good
Good
Good
Expect Good smoke levels today with possible hazy skies overnight.
Burns
Good
Good
Good
Expect Good smoke levels today.
Unity
Hazardous
5:00AM – 1:00PM
 Very Unhealthy:
4:00AM – 1:00PM
 Very Unhealthy:
4:00AM – 1:00PM
Conditions in the morning will vary from Very Unhealthy to Hazardous smoke levels but will become a Moderate level by 1:00PM.

Moderate: day-night
Moderate: day-night
Moderate: day-night
Prairie City
Good
Good
Good
Expect smoke Moderate smoke levels early in the morning turning to Good levels today and tonight.
Sites without a monitor
Site
Today
Tomorrow
Worse Time of Day Impacts
Vale
Good
Good
Expect Good smoke levels today with possible hazy skies overnight.
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity. AQI estimates for sites do not represent a full 24-hour time period.  Instead they reflect a period of time within the day where smoke impacts would be greatest.
AQI Index
Actions to Protect Yourself
Good
None

Moderate
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups- USG
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           
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

Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Hazardous
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
*  Sensitive Groups include people with heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women and older adults