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/mᵌ)
|
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.
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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