Oregon Smoke Information

Bald Sisters Fire Air Quality Update for 9/24/2014  by  Dan Chan Yesterday: John Day, Unity and Baker City measured “Good” air quality yesterday.  Although lightning from previous night started half a dozen new fires yesterday, they were promptly contained by local fire crews.  Most of the resourced from the Bald Sisters Fire were demobed yesterday as well.  Today: Limited fire growth and thus limited smoke production is expected for today due to moist fuel condition on the ground.  Southwesterly wind is expected for today.  In the evening, wind will weakened and smoke from Bald Sisters fire is likely to settle onto the North Malheur River Valley and drainages to the south of the fire.   Tomorrow:  Rain is forecast to arrive at John Day tomorrow morning.  The rain band will move east and is forecast to exit Unity by night fall.  Southerly wind is expected during the day and this will push smoke, if any, to th...

Smoldering fuels, with cool, moist conditions and light winds resulted in smoke hanging around much of the area east of Portland today.  While the overall air quality was not particularly bad (except for the towns very close to the fire) the combination of smoke and humid air really made for a soupy looking mess.  Tomorrow's predicted rain could go a long way towards clearing things up.  The fire will continue to smolder and generate smoke in the immediate area, but rain and SW winds should clear much of SE Portland.

Bald Sisters Fire  Air Quality Update for 9/23/2014  by  Dan Chan Yesterday: Air quality monitor at John Day measured “Moderate” amount of smoke yesterday while Baker City measured “Good”air quality yesterday.  The fire growth yesterday was limited by showers of up to 0.59” at the fire.  However, only 0.15” was at John Day and this was not enough to scour the smoke in the air.  Today: Limited fire growth is expected for today due to rain overnight.  This will limit smoke production from the fire.  Southerly wind is expected for today.  In the evening, smoke is likely to settle in drainages and valleys north of the fire.  This may bring elevated smoke to Unity and Baker City.  Tomorrow:  Southerly wind is expected during the day, but is expected to turn Northerly in the evening.  This should keep smoke close to the fire and should have limited impacts to the nearby communities including John Day, Prairi...