Friday, September 11, 2015 - Combined Plumes from the Rough and Butte Fires and Weekend Outlook

Lots of activity on the Butte fire today, over 50,000 acres of growth.  VIIRs satellite heat detections (red dots are the most recent, within six hours of this screenshot, refreshed at 1:45 P.M.).

Hazard Mapping System analysis shows a large, high density plume of smoke, which joined with the plume from the Rough fire to darken the skies this evening over much of the Sierra Nevada foothill area.

Not all this smoke was at the surface...Auburn and other sites north were relatively clean, compared to sites to the south (e.g., Murphys)

(http://smoke.airfire.org/monitoringReport)

This pattern looks like it will continue until Sunday, when smoke start to get more dispersed and pushed slightly more north and west (http://viewer.smoke.airfire.org/run/standard/CANSAC-2km/2015091112/), ahead of an incoming weather system next week.

Friday, September 11, 2015 - Tenaya Fire Timelapse and Yosemite smoke update for the weekend.

Yosemite air quality monitoring staff were using a time-lapse camera  (not web connected) to monitor smoke from the Rough and the Middle fire when the Tenaya Fire started.  Here's the footage, looking north across the Yosemite Valley toward the smoke.

Hourly concentrations reached the Hazardous range for several hours overnight last night, and are likely to do so again tonight and tomorrow night (Saturday night, 9/12). By afternoon however concentrations were at least briefly in the moderate range, though with currently increasing fire activity there may be little respite.  A change in the pattern starts Sunday night, but smoke from the Butte fire to the north may also be influencing Yosemite by that time.

Friday, September 11, 2015 - North Coast Unified AQMD Smoke PSA & Unhealthy Advisory

The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District had issued a Public Service Announcement regarding smoke from current wildfires dated September 11, 2015. We have also issued an Unhealthy Advisory for areas in Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity County. See the district's website for additional information.

Friday, September 11, 2015 - Tab Information above

The tabs at the top of the blog have information on air quality and health, where's the fire, and mapping information.

Friday, September 11, 2015 - Rough Wildfire Air Resource Advisor Smoke Report

Air Quality Report Issue Date: 09/11/2015                            Rough Fire Prepared by: Tod Johnson
Forecast conditions represent impacts from smoke from the Rough Fire. Contributions from ozone and other pollutants are not reflected.

Fire:  Fire activity increased yesterday with warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity. Smoke produced was from the continued burning of interior islands and uphill and westerly fire spread in the Kings Canyon . The fire grew to 115, 254 acres, up 11,000 acres from yesterday.  29% of the fire is contained. Air Quality Today: Heavy concentrations of smoke are expected near the fire, and to the west in the foothills today.  Smoke will be slow to lift and transport will be primarily terrain and diurnally driven. Limited ventilation is forecast for today with continued increased impacts expected in the San Joaquin Valley west, southwest, and north of fire. Residual smoke that has not cleared the area will add to impacts from new smoke being produced.  Unhealthy to Hazardous conditions are expected in communities near the fire. Improving conditions for the Owens Valley.       Air Quality Tomorrow:  Lower elevations impacts are intensified by poor ventilation west of the incident. Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) Impacts from the Rough fire Site Yesterday Observed Midnight-Midnight 24-Hr AQI September 10, 2015 Today Forecast 24-Hr  AQI September 11, 2015 Tomorrow Outlook 24-Hr AQI September 12, 2015 Best Time of Day September 11 AQI and Period Trimmer USG Unhealthy USG Best early evening Prather USG USG USG Best early evening Shaver Lake Moderate USG Best early evening Oakhurst Moderate USG USG Best early to late afternoon Wishon Reservoir USG Moderate USG Best early morning Hume Lake Very Unhealthy Hazardous Very Unhealthy Better conditions morning Cedar Grove No data Unhealthy Very Unhealthy No significant improvement Grant Grove Unhealthy Unhealthy Very Unhealthy No significant improvement Dunlap/Squaw Val. Moderate Unhealthy Unhealthy Moderate mid afternoon Mammoth Lakes Moderate Good Moderate Early morning through later afternoon Aspendell USG Good Moderate Early morning through later afternoon Bishop Good Good Moderate Early Morning through early evening Big Pine Good Moderate Early Morning through early evening Independence Good Moderate Early Morning through early evening Pinehurst Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy Moderate late morning into afternoon Montecito-Sequoia Lodge Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy USG morning Lodgepole Moderate Moderate Unhealthy late morning to mid afternoon Three Rivers Moderate USG Unhealthy late morning to mid afternoon Ash Mountain Moderate USG USG late morning to mid afternoon Kernville Good Good Good Good Disclaimer:  Conditions may change quickly, these projections are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.  Sensitive groups including individuals with Asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should take precautions to avoid exposure to smoke. If you feel as though you are having health effects from smoke see your doctor or health professional as needed. In some cases your eyes are your best tools, if it is smoky outside you are being impacted. Use caution when driving in or around smoky areas. AQI Index Actions to Protect Yourself Good                                                                                           None Moderate Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - USG 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            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 Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors. Hazardous 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

View of the fire:  Buck Rock Web Camera #3, http://rockyags.cr.usgs.gov/dashboards/WebCam.htm

California Smoke Blog - http://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/

San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District - http://valleyair.org/wildfires.htm

Interagency Real Time Smoke Monitoring - http://app.airsis.com/usfs/fleet.aspx

AirNow - http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main