Tuesday, August 27, 2013

August 27, 2013 - Air Quality Report for the Fish Fire Sequoia National Forest.

Fish Fish Fire, Sequoia National Forest - Air Quality Report                                Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Prepared by: Ryan Bauer, USDA-Forest Service


Yesterday, August 26, 2013
The Fish Fire grew by about 400 acres, to a size of 1,915 acres. Smoke from the fire continues to impact communities in the Kern River Valley during the morning hours. Kernville’s air quality reached the unhealthy for sensitive groups range during late morning before returning to the good range shortly after noon. During the evening, smoke from the Fish Fire impacted communities in the southern Owens Valley. Smoke impacts in Lone Pine peaked in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range for a brief period.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Smoke in the Kern River Valley was light this morning due to greater atmospheric instability. The inversion usually responsible for trapping smoke in drainages across the region was much weaker this morning and smoke is already ventilating well into the atmosphere. A band of moisture is moving over the area today bringing with it higher humidity and a chance of thunderstorms. Fire activity is expected to be low and any smoke will likely be obscured by clouds. Any rain from thunderstorms will improve air quality on a local scale. Air quality in the Owens Valley should not be impacted by smoke from the Fish fire today.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Morning air quality impacts in the Kern River Valley should remain low. Cloud cover will allow only weak to moderate morning inversions to form. The threat of afternoon thunderstorms continues, and the increased humidity should keep fire activity low.  Springville, Three Rivers, Pinehurst, and Porterville should remain clear. Owens Valley communities may receive light smoke in the evening hours but should not exceed moderate air quality.
Long-range outlook
The threat of thunderstorms lingers through Friday before diminishing. Drier southwest flow returns by the weekend bringing with it the chance for increased fire activity and stronger morning inversions.
Follow the links in the following table to view real-time air quality monitoring data for each site.


Site
24-hour Average PM2.5
(µg/m3)
3-hour Max PM2.5
(μg/m)

Level of Health Concern


Meaning


Actions to Protect Yourself
Forecast
for Tuesday
Aug. 27, 2013
Bishop
Lone Pine
Three Rivers
Porterville
Pinehurst
Springville
8
6
6
7
9
9
14
10
10
11
14
19
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 small number of sensitive people.
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Kernville
28
108
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
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

Everyone may begin to experience more serious health effects.
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.

Air Quality Index (AQI) ratings are derived based on the recommendations found in Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials.

For more information visit:
                San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm
                Great Basin Air Blog: http://airblog.gbuapcd.org/
                Great Basin Air Pollution Control District: http://www.gbuapcd.org/

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