Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Wildfire Air Quality Summary Report for the Klamath

Air Quality Summary Report                                                                                        

 Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Prepared by: Ryan Bauer, Kelly Palmer, and Ron Sherron        

Yesterday Increased fire activity occurred yesterday on the July and Happy Camp Complex fires along with increased smoke impacts in nearby communities. Many communities that had not been affected by smoke in several days saw moderate impacts such as Hoopa, Weed, and Mt Shasta City. Today A slight chance of isolated thunderstorms remains today but they will not be as dominant a feature as yesterday. Fairly strong inversions this morning will keep smoke in drainages and valleys until northerly winds strengthen this afternoon or evening. Smoke impacts are likely to extend to communities further south and east than yesterday. Model runs suggest that Redding could begin to see some impacts by this afternoon and evening. Temperatures will be cooler today but humidity remains low so, fire activity along with smoke production is likely to remain similar or increase. Smoke impacts are likely to be similar to yesterday. Tomorrow Cooler, breezy weather under NW winds will occur Wednesday. Lightning over the past two days ignited new fires in SW Oregon that may begin to affect air quality in Siskiyou County as a result. Morning inversions will continue to trap smoke in the Klamath and Salmon River Drainages and Scott Valley.
Site	August 18 AQI		August 19 Today AQI	August 20 AQI		Highest Impacts Time of Day
Yreka	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		8pm
Ft. Jones	Unhealthy		USG	USG		7pm – 10pm
Etna	No Data		USG	USG		7pm – 9pm
Klamath River	USG		Moderate	Moderate		9pm – 12am
Happy Camp	Very Unhealthy		Very Unhealthy	Very Unhealthy		11am – 6pm
Somes Bar	USG		USG	USG		2pm – 5pm
Orleans	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		2pm – 6pm
Weitchpec	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		3pm – 5pm
Hoopa	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		2pm – 4pm
Willow Creek	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		12pm – 2p
Mt. Shasta	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		11pm – 2am
Weed	Moderate		Moderate	Moderate		11pm – 2am
PLEASE NOTE: The air quality outlook is based on data from automated instruments that have not been subjected to a quality assurance review. AQI’s estimated for sites with air monitors.
Air Quality Index		Potential Health Impacts			Actions to Reduce Smoke Exposure
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 very small number of individuals.			Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should limit time spend outdoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups		Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.			Everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to smoke.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should minimize exposure by staying inside where air is cleaner.
Unhealthy		Everyone may begin to experience health effects.  These effects may be more serious for sensitive people.			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and choose non-strenuous indoor activities.  Sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults should stay indoors where air is clean.
Very Unhealthy		Triggers a health alert meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects			Everyone should limit time spent outdoors and preferably stay indoors where air is clean.   Staying indoors is especially important for sensitive individuals such as those with heart or lung disease, infants, children, pregnant women, or older adults.
Hazardous		Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions.  Everyone is very likely to be affected by serious health effects.			Everyone should avoid all outdoor activity.  Relief from smoke is best accomplished by leaving for cleaner air.  Alternately, remain indoors  where air is clean.