Sunday, August 21 2016 #CedarFire #WildfireSmoke Report

Air Quality Outlook
Issued 8/21/16
Prepared by Josh Hall

Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke from the Cedar Fire.  Contributions from ozone and other pollutants and impacts from other fires are not reflected.
Fire:  Fire growth yesterday was limited by increased humidity and an inversion that didn’t break, keeping most of the fire area blanketed in smoke throughout the day.  The fire grew to 17,986 acres and is 5% contained, however the heavy interior fuels continue to burn, as the drought and beetle infested affected timber are consumed.  As the perimeter of the fire moves into lighter fuels, brush and grass, fire crews will look for opportunities for containment in those areas.    Air Quality Today: Smoke will be transported east and northeast of the fire during the day, with Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) to Unhealthy levels in communities near the fire and extending east impacting much of Inyo County, including Owens Valley.  Conditions should improve later in the day for those communities as impacts shift more easterly, with impacts expected in areas near the fire and extending east towards communities near Ridgecrest.        Air Quality Tomorrow: Smoke is expected to be transported east of the fire initially tomorrow, with Moderate to USG conditions in areas near the fire, extending towards the east.  Areas in the San Joaquin Valley and south may be impacted from smoke from several wildfires along the coastal range Monday morning.
Smoke Impacts from Local Fires
Site	Yesterday Observed Midnight-Midnight 24-Hr AQI August 20, 2016		Today Forecast 24-Hr AQI August 21, 2016	Tomorrow Outlook 24-Hr AQI August 22, 2016	Worst Time of Day Impacts AQI and Period
Kernville	USG		USG	USG	Unhealthy, Dusk through early morning
Johnsondale	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	USG, Dusk through early morning
Camp Nelson	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	USG, Dusk through early morning
Porterville	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, morning
Visalia	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, morning
Three Rivers	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, morning
Bakersfield	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, morning
Mojave	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate	Moderate, morning
Kennedy Meadows	Moderate		USG	USG	USG, Dusk through early morning
Keeler	Moderate		USG	Moderate	Unhealthy, morning
Lone Pine	Moderate		USG	Moderate	Unhealthy, morning
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 individuals should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG		People within Sensitive Groups* should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else may find relief by limiting prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy		People within Sensitive Groups* should avoid all physical outdoor activity. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy		Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion
Hazardous		Everyone should avoid any outdoor activity.

View of the fire:  Breckenridge and Sherman Peak webcams, http://rockyags.cr.usgs.gov/dashboards/WebCam.htm

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

San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District - http://valleyair.org/wildfires.htm

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

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