American Fire Air Quality Update - August 22, 2013

American Wildfire Air Quality Summary Report

Prepared by Andrea Holland USDA Forest Service

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Yesterday’s unstable winds favored clearing of the air in communities around the American Fire.  Foresthill and Truckee moved from unhealthy for sensitive groups into moderate air quality conditions.  Yesterday afternoon the Rim fire in Tuolomne County tripled in size putting out an impressive smoke plume that southerly winds pushed over communities around the American fire.  Daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from yesterday, August 21 are shown below with the corresponding level of health concern and actions to protect yourself.

Site	24-hr Average PM2.5 (µg/m3)	3-hour AvgMax PM2.5 (µg/m3)	Level of Health Concern	Meaning	Actions to Protect Yourself
Sacramento Roseville Auburn Loyalton Portola GrassValley Quincy Colfax	3 9 9 10 16 14 20 16	5 11 18 19 22 23 29 30	Good	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk	None
Foresthill Truckee	23 22	52 70	Moderate	Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be a moderate health concern for a very small very sensitive people.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
			Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	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 adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone one else, should limit prolonged or heavy exertion
			Unhealthy	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	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.
			Hazardous	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.

Air Quality Forecast:   Local winds will align with the topography today creating a high risk of increased fire activity and smoke from the American Fire.  During the day today, transport winds from the south will continue to carry smoke from the Rim fire into the American fire, Tahoe Basin and Reno areas.  Modeling indicates that tonight’s diurnal winds will drop smoke from the American fire into the Colfax, Auburn and Foresthill areas.  The Reno area may see settling of smoke from the Rim fire. 

For more information visit www.northcasmoke.blogspot.com

For daily updates on air quality conditions in Placer County visit www.placer.ca.gov/apcd