Friday, August 21, 2015 - Smoke/Air Quality Report, Shasta-Trinity/Six Rivers Fire Complexes

Friday August 21, 2015

Shasta-Trinity & Six Rivers Complexes                                                                Mike Broughton

Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke.  Contributions from ozone and other pollutants are not reflected.

Smoke Synopsis:

As weak low pressure approached the area yesterday afternoon, ventilation improved dramatically.  Some of the fires became much more active putting up decent smoke columns, drawing fresher air into the smoke-choked valleys of Trinity County.  Example: Fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations at Burnt Ranch dropped from 827 to 74 ug/m3 from 3 to 6 pm.  Hyampom also cleared up for a bit, but smoke moved back in overnight.  Similar clearing can be expected this afternoon, although high pressure should build in again Saturday, increasing levels resulting in poorer air quality again Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Saturday morning may see briefly higher levels near the coast as winds become easterly for a few hours. Transport winds should shift to a more south to southwesterly direction Sunday through most of next week, sending smoke into the Scott and Shasta Valleys and into southern Oregon. Fire behavior is expected to become moderately active again this afternoon, clearing smoke out of many of the valleys, only to have it return during the nighttime hours.

Air Quality Outlook:  Shasta-Trinity & Six Rivers Complexes
Site	Friday August 21, 2015	Saturday August 22, 2015	Sunday August 23, 2015	Comments
Crescent City	Good	Good	Good
Gasquet	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	May be a couple hours of poor air quality in the morning, improving dramatically in the afternoon.
Happy Camp	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Improving conditions expected in the afternoon.
Etna	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG
Mt. Shasta	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Tulelake	Moderate	Moderate	Good
Yreka	USG	Moderate	Good
Eureka	Good	Moderate	Good	May see some smoke for a few hours Saturday morning.
Hoopa	Moderate	USG	Moderate	Greatly improved with better ventilation and no close fires.
Mad River/Dinsmore	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Monitoring equipment is currently inoperable. Afternoons should see best air quality levels.
Orleans	Moderate	USG	Moderate	Greatly improved with better ventilation and no close fires.
Weitchpec	Moderate	USG	Moderate	Greatly improved with better ventilation and no close fires.
Willow Creek	Moderate	USG	Moderate
Burnt Ranch	Moderate	USG	Moderate
Hayfork	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Afternoons should see best air quality levels.
Hyampom	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Afternoons should see best air quality levels.
Weaverville	Very Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Forecast is also representative of the upper Trinity River and Trinity National Recreation Area.
Anderson/Redding	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Disclaimer: Forecast conditions represent air quality levels affected by fine particulates; contribution from ozone and other pollutants is not reflected.  Conditions may change quickly, these projections are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  Sensitive groups including individuals with asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke.  If you feel as though you are having health effects from smoke, see your doctor or health professional as needed.  In some cases your eyes are your best tools. If it is smoky outside, you are being impacted.  Use caution when driving in or around smoky areas.

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

Links:

AirNow - http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=5&tab=0

California Smoke Information Blog - http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/      

North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District http://www.ncuaqmd.org/

Shasta County Air Pollution Control District - http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/drm_index/aq_index.aspx

Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/content/agriculture-air-pollution-control-district

Smoke Monitoring Information - http://smoke.airfire.org/monitoring/#/

Wildfire Smoke – A Guide for Public Health Official from California Air Resource Board

Wildland Fire Personnel Smoke Exposure Guidebook from National Interagency Fire Center

Smoke: Knowing the Risks video (14 minutes) from WFStar