Saturday, August 30, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for the Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary Report                                                              Prepared by:  Andrea Nick (USDA-FS) and Willie Begay(USDA-FS) Yesterday Winds pushed smoke to the northeast throughout the day causing high levels of smoke throughout the Scott and Shasta Valleys, with some impacts in Macdoel and beyond.  Communities located to the west of the fires such as those in the Trinity River drainage, and lower Klamath River drainage had limited smoke impacts. However, Seiad Valley and Happy Camp had an afternoon spike in smoke concentrations greater than the previous day. Today Smoke will be pushed to the southeast and by mid-afternoon smoke impacts could reach Weaverville and Redding. Today’s conditions will be similar to yesterday. Tomorrow A shift in wind direction is predicted.   A mostly northerly flow will push the smoke to the southward and westward.  This will cause the lower Klamath River drainage, Salmon River drainage to see an increase in smoke.  Scott Valley will retain smoke but the Shasta Valley should see improvements in air quality.
Site		August 29 Yesterday’s AQI	August 30 Today’s AQI		August 31 Predicted AQI	Likely Time of Highest Impacts Today
Yreka		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Good	Afternoon
Ft. Jones		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Late Morning/Early Afternoon
Etna		Moderate	Unhealthy		Unhealthy	Late Morning/Early Afternoon
Macdoel		USG	USG		Moderate	Afternoon
Seiad Valley		USG	USG		Very Unhealthy	Morning
Happy Camp		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Very Unhealthy	Morning
Somes Bar		Good	Moderate		Very Unhealthy	Mid-Morning
Orleans		Unhealthy	Unhealthy		Very Unhealthy	Mid-Morning
Weitchpec		Good	Good		USG	Mid-Morning
Hoopa		Moderate	Moderate		USG	Afternoon
Willow Creek		Good	Good		Moderate	Afternoon
Mt. Shasta		USG	USG		Good	Late Afternoon
Weed		USG	USG		Good	Late Afternoon
Sawyers Bar		Moderate	Moderate		USG	Afternoon
PLEASE NOTE: The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review. AQI’s estimated for sites with air monitors.
Air Quality Index	Potential Health Impacts			Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
Good	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk			None
Moderate	Air quality is acceptable for most.  There may be moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.			Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should limit time spend outdoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)	Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.			Everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to smoke.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should minimize exposure by staying inside where air is cleaner.
Unhealthy	Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and choose non-strenuous indoor activities.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should stay indoors where air is clean.
Very Unhealthy	Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and preferably stay indoors where air is clean.   Staying indoors is especially important for sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults.
Hazardous	Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.			Everyone should avoid all outdoor activity.  Relief from smoke is best accomplished by leaving for cleaner air.  Alternately, remain indoors  where air is clean.