American Fire Air Quality Summary Report - August 20, 2013

American Wildfire Air Quality Summary Report

Prepared by Andrea Holland USDA Forest Service

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Yesterday’s weather favored firefighting efforts and helped disperse smoke somewhat in communities most affected by the American Fire. Residual smoke, while less heavy than seen in the previous couple of days, lingered in communities closest to the fire including Foresthill and Auburn. Daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from yesterday, August 19, are shown below with the corresponding level of health concern and actions to protect yourself.

Site	24-hr Average PM2.5 (µg/m3)	3-hour AvgMax PM2.5 (µg/m3)	Level of Health Concern	Meaning	Actions to Protect Yourself
			Good	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk	None
Portola Quincy Grass Valley Lincoln Roseville Truckee	26 24 29 46 35 31	35 39 52 61 67 72	Moderate	Air quality is acceptable for most. There may be a moderate health concern for a very small very sensitive people.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Auburn	74	168	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 adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.  Everyone one 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.
			Very Unhealthy	Triggers a health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects	Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
Foresthill	219	533	Hazardous	The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health effects	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.

Air Quality Forecast:   Air quality will range between moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups through the late morning in the foothill communities in and around Auburn and Foresthill.  As clouds clear today there will be greater warming and drying in the fire area.  As we have seen over the last week winds will pick up this afternoon. This will help disperse residual smoke from the last few days but it may also exacerbate firefighting efforts resulting in greater acres burned.  Expect resultant smoke to settle overnight and through late tomorrow morning in the foothill area, especially  around Auburn and Foresthill.

For more information visit www.northcasmoke.blogspot.com

For daily updates on air quality conditions in Placer County visit www.placer.ca.gov/apcd