9/4/2013 Rim Fire Air Quality Report

Air Quality Report                                                                 Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Rim Fire, Stanislaus National Forest

Yesterday, September 3, 2013

The Rim Fire grew approximately 1,500 acres, to a total size of 237,341 acres. Burnout operations on the northern and southern portions of the fire continued with success through the night. Southwest transport winds returned smoke to communities northeast of the fire, including Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Markleeville, Minden, Carson City, and the Lake Tahoe Basin. Skies remained clear for the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

As expected, a stronger inversion has pushed smoke into communities further downslope of the fire this morning. The heaviest morning smoke impacts are in communities to the northeast and in the immediate fire area such as Pinecrest, Bear Valley, Tuolumne City, Sonora, Columbia, Markleeville, Carson City, and Minden. Morning inversions are stronger today and will take longer to break, but otherwise atmospheric conditions will be very similar to yesterday. All areas should see their best air quality in the afternoon. Daytime transport winds will remain southwesterly, reducing impacts to the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and the San Joaquin Valley. Nighttime impacts similar to yesterday are likely for Carson City and Minden, continuing into Thursday morning.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Communities within the immediate fire area, and those west of the fire will continue to see smoke from stronger morning inversions. Smoke will likely remain trapped until around noon when inversions finally break. Southwest transport winds and fair dispersion conditions will continue the rest of the day. This should keep air quality in the Yosemite Valley and areas south of the fire in the good to moderate range. Areas north and northeast of the fire, including the Lake Tahoe Basin, and Washoe and Carson valleys will see similar impacts during early morning, clearing in the afternoon, and returning in the nighttime hours.

Long term Outlook

Southwest winds will continue thru Friday, then another period of northwest winds is likely through the weekend and into next week. Smoke production from the Rim fire is still likely by then, so the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys could again see air quality impacts this weekend.

Follow the links in the following table to view real-time air quality monitoring data for each site.

Site	24-hour Avg PM2.5 (µg/m3)	3-hour Max PM2.5 (μg/mᵌ)	Level of Health Concern	Meaning	Actions to Protect Yourself	Forecast For Wed. Sept. 4, 2013
	Yesterday, Sept. 3, 2013
La Grange Mariposa Columbia Greeley Hill El Portal Yosemite Vly	3 7 8 6 5 12	6-14:00 14-01:00 18-09:00 36-08:00 8-14:00 18-23:00	Good	Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk	None	Mariposa La Grange Greeley Hill El Portal Yosemite Vly.
Reno Groveland Tuol. Mdws S. Lk. Tahoe	17 31 14 23	50-10:00 156-09:00 38-21:00 55-00:00	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.	Reno Groveland Tuol. Mdws Columbia
Tuol. City	43	140-09:00	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.	S. Lk. Tahoe Tuol. City
Bear Valley Markleeville. Pinecrest Carson City Minden	82 122 129 57 105	134-06:00 205-04:00 289-09:00 115-04:00 162-00:00	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.	Bear Valley Markleeville Minden Carson City Pinecrest
Drew Mdw ICP	161	500-07:00	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.	Drew Mdw ICP

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:

California Smoke Information Blog: http://northcasmoke.blogspot.com/

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm

Mariposa County Air Quality: http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=1356

Tuolumne County APCD:   http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_AIR_POLL_CONTROL/ENTP/h/?tab=DEFAULT