Saturday, August 22, 2015 - Smoke Concentrations at Various Northern California River Valley Locations

Saturday's smoke generated from the nearby fires in the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests can be seen in the satellite image below drifting to the west and north.  Some of the smoke monitoring sites in the deep river valleys are shown on the image on the right.  

A mid-day peak in smoke concentrations is displayed in the graphs below.  The morning began in most valley locations with relatively clean air with a layer of smoke above the valley.  Daytime heating mixed the smoke down to the surface between 10 am and noon, then the valleys began to clear again in the afternoon with the exception of Orleans, which was north of the most active fires and excerienced a second peak in concentration. 

Satellite image from 4:45 pm PDT  8/22/15           Smoke monitoring sites and wildfire perimeters 

       

Saturday, August 22, 2015 - North Coast Unified AQMD Smoke PSA, Unhealthy Advisory & Hazardous Alert

The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District had issued a Public Service Announcement regarding smoke from current wildfires dated August 22, 2015. We have also issued an Unhealthy Advisory for areas in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity Counties, and a Hazardous Alert for areas in Trinity County. See the district's website for additional information.

Saturday, August 22, 2015 - Rough Fire Air Quality Report

Air Quality Report                                                                                              Issue Date: 08/22/2015

Rough Fire – Sierra National Forest                                                            Prepared by: Ariane Sarzotti

Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke from the Rough Fire.  Contributions from ozone and other pollutants are not reflected.
Fire: On the southern zone, the fire continues to move towards Hume Lake, and remains well established in the 10 mile drainage. The fire continues to move towards Windy Gulch, Lockwood Grove, and Evans Grove.  On the northern zone of the fire, it continues to move along the Kings River towards Balch Camp and Black Rock Power Station. The fire is now 47,079 acres. Air Quality Today:   With slight changes in weather patterns, we will see heavy concentrations of smoke in the western foothills and areas within the Kings River Canyon until midafternoon.  Owens Valley, particularly Bishop and Mammoth Lakes area, will see air quality degrading as smoke is lifted and transported to the northeast into the Owens Valley.   This evening smoke will once again settle into the Kings River Valley, bringing smoke into the western foothills and the San Joaquin Valley overnight.  Air Quality Tomorrow:  A similar pattern to today is expected.
Smoke Impacts from Local Fires
Site		Yesterday Observed Midnight-Midnight 24-Hr AQI August 21, 2015	Today Forecast 24-Hr AQI August 22, 2015	Tomorrow Outlook 24-Hr AQI August 23, 2015	Worst Time of Day Impacts 3-Hour AQI and Period
Trimmer		USG	USG	USG	Unhealthy, 9 A.M. Noon
Prather		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, 9 A.M. to Noon
Shaver Lake			Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, 10 A.M. to Noon
Hume Lake		Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous 2 A.M to 1 P.M.
Cedar Grove		Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous 2 A.M. to 2 P.M.
Devils Post Pile/Mammoth Lakes		USG	USG	USG	USG 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Bishop		Moderate	USG	USG	USG 5 P.M to 7 A.M.
Big Pine			USG	USG	Unhealthy 6 P.M. to 10 A.M.
Independence		USG	USG	USG	Unhealthy   5 P.M. to 9 A.M.
Dunlap		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	USG Midnight to 6 A.M.
Pinehurst		USG	USG	USG	Unhealthy 4 A.M. to 10 A.M.
Grant Grove		Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous	Hazardous Midnight to  10 A.M.
Three Rivers		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	USG 5 A.M. to Noon
Ash Mountain		USG	USG	USG	USG 3 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Kernville		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate 7 A.M. to 11 A.M.
Disclaimer:  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

View of the fire:  Buck Rock Web Camera #3, http://rockyags.cr.usgs.gov/dashboards/WebCam.htm

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

San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District - http://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/forecast.htm

Interagency Real Time Smoke Monitoring - http://app.airsis.com/usfs/fleet.aspx

AirNow - http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main

Saturday, August 22, 2015 - Smoke Report for Shasta-Trinity/Six Rivers Fire Complexes

Saturday August 22, 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:
Smoke impacts overnight were very localized, much more so than recent evenings. Light winds from the east and thick smoke sitting just above a surface inversion resulted in better air quality Saturday morning at many deep valley locations.  However, as the day heats up and high pressure builds again over northern California, the smoke will mix down to the surface in many locations, although not quite as widespread as was experienced last week. Smoke may again become layered overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, with clearing in some valleys and smokier in others.  Smoke can then be expected to mix down to the surface again mid-day Sunday with a gradual clearing pattern during the afternoon and evening hours.
Air Quality Outlook:  Shasta-Trinity & Six Rivers Complexes
Site	Saturday August 22, 2015	Sunday August 23, 2015	Monday August 24, 2015	Comments
Crescent City	Good	Good	Good
Gasquet	USG	USG	Moderate	Active fires in the area may lead to smokier conditions.
Happy Camp	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Expect smokier conditions late mornings.
Etna	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Mt. Shasta	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Tulelake	Moderate	Good	Good
Yreka	Moderate	Good	Good
Eureka	Good	Good	Good
Hoopa	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Midday increase in smoke.
Mad River/Dinsmore	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Monitoring equipment is currently inoperable.
Orleans	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Weitchpec	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Willow Creek	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	USG	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Burnt Ranch	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Hayfork	Hazardous	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Hyampom	Hazardous	Very Unhealthy	Unhealthy	Increase in smoke expected Saturday morning.
Weaverville	Very Unhealthy	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 APCD http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/drm_index/aq_index.aspx

Siskiyou County APCD 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