Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary for Klamath Region

Air Quality Summary Report                                                                                          

  Wednesday, August 20, 2014

  Prepared by: Kelly Palmer, Ryan Bauer, and Ron Sherron

Yesterday Smoke impacts increased some in communities in Scott Valley and the Klamath River drainage and to the southeast as far as the Redding area. Around 1800, increasing winds, high temperatures, and lower RH triggered active fire behavior and caused 2200 acres of fire growth on the Frying Pan Fire and 97 acres of growth on the Falkstein Fire. Northwest winds pushed smoke into Ft. Jones and Etna. Today Cooler temperature and northerly winds will contribute to fire activity similar to yesterday.  Early morning impacts will be similar to the last few days as diurnal flow allows smoke to settle and concentrate in valleys such as Happy Camp, Scotts and the Klamath valleys.  Widespread dispersion of smoke will begin around noon as northerly winds move smoke over a more widespread area.  Models suggest that by early evening, smoke impacts may be seen as far as Redding from the Klamath complex fires. By late evening, winds will decrease and smoke will again settle into valleys and drainages. Tomorrow   Similar weather conditions to today.  Morning inversions will trap smoke in the Klamath and Scott valleys. Very light afternoon winds will disperse smoke to wider areas including Yreka, Mt. Shasta and Willow Creek.
Site	August 19 AQI		August 20 Today AQI	August 21 AQI		Highest Impacts Time of Day
Yreka	USG		USG	USG		12am -2pm
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		USG	USG		12am-8pm
Etna	No Data		USG	USG		12am – 3am
Klamath River	Unhealthy		USG	USG		12am-5pm
Happy Camp	Hazardous		Hazardous	Hazardous		8am-6pm
Somes Bar	USG		USG	USG		10am-5pm
Orleans	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		12pm-5pm
Weitchpec	Good		Good	Good		All Day
Hoopa	No Data		Good	Good		All Day
Willow Creek	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		12pm-4pm
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		12am-2am
Weed	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		12am-4am
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		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.