NCUAQMD Air Quality Smoke Advisory for August 13

Press release from NCUAQMD:

Multiple fires in Canada, Oregon and Washington remain active with elevated smoke possible along the coast into California. Where the marine layer thins, haze and smoke may be visible depending on conditions. The Boise Fire south of Orleans is active with continued smoke impacts expected depending on conditions. Communities closest to Boise Fire and along river corridors and drainages will see the most impact with expected periods of smoke pooling due to inversion conditions. Smoke impacts may be seen in eastern Trinity County as conditions warrant.

Air quality monitors and the current Air Quality Index (AQI) for communities should be viewed at the EPA’s AirNow Fire & Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov. US Forest Service Air Resource Advisors (ARAs) may have deployed on a fire and may issue Smoke Outlooks which can be found at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook.

ALERT status – Hazardous (AQI 301 and higher, 24 hr. avg):

None

ADVISORY status – Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy (AQI 151-300 range, 24 hr. avg):

None

Regional Smoke Outlooks – Good , Moderate , to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (AQI 0-150 range):

Humboldt County:

• Eureka area (including Scotia to Trinidad) – Overall Good conditions

• Willow Creek – Overall Good to Moderate conditions, with periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)

• Orleans – Overall Moderate conditions, with periods of USG to Unhealthy

• Hoopa – Overall Good to Moderate conditions, with periods of USG, haze aloft

• Garberville – Overall Good conditions

• Shelter Cove – Overall Good conditions

Del Norte County:

• Crescent City – Overall Good conditions, haze aloft

• Gasquet – Overall Good conditions, haze aloft

• Klamath – Overall Good conditions, with periods of Moderate

Trinity County:

• Weaverville area – Overall Good to Moderate conditions, haze aloft

• Coffee Creek – Overall Good to Moderate conditions, with periods of USG to Unhealthy

• Trinity Center – Overall Good to Moderate conditions, with periods of USG

• Hayfork – Overall Good conditions

• Hyampom – Overall Good conditions

• Mad River, Ruth – Overall Good conditions

U.S. EPA AIR QUALITY INDEX (https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/)
Notice	Level of Concern	AQI Value	Actions to Protect Yourself
	Good	0 – 50	None, air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no risk
	Moderate	51 – 100	Sensitive individuals should limit prolonged or heavy exertion
	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)	101 – 150	People within USG should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion
Advisory	Unhealthy (UH)	151 – 200	People within USG should avoid all prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion
	Very Unhealthy (VUH)	201 – 300	Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion
Alert	Hazardous (HAZ)	> 301	Everyone should avoid any outdoor activity

Information on the current Air Quality Index (AQI) for particulate matter, fire locations and smoke plumes, and US Forest Service Air Resource Advisor (ARA) Smoke Outlook Forecasts, are available at the EPA’s AirNow Fire & Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov.

US Forest Service Air Resource Advisors (ARAs) are assigned to certain fires that may impact our area and are typically provide daily Smoke Outlook Forecasts for local communities around active wildfires at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook.

Clean Air Centers provide a safe place to go during periods of intense wildfire smoke or poor air quality. For information about available Clean Air Centers go to: CARB’s CA Clean Air Centers at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

For information about School Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance during wildfires please visit https://www.ncuaqmd.org/aq-guidance-for-schools.

Fire information can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ or https://fire.airnow.gov/ or app.watchduty.org. As with all wildfires, ash fallout is possible. Ash fallout information can be found in the Wildfire Smoke Resources section of our webpage at www.ncuaqmd.org.

Health Information & Actions to Protect Yourself from Smoke Impacts

For information on the steps, you can take to keep your family safe before and during wildfire season visit CARB’s Smoke Ready California (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/smokereadyca).

Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and distance from the fire. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults.

These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.

Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:

• Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.

• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible.

• Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems.

• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors. Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.

• Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.

Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have repeated coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness.

For further information, visit the District’s website at www.ncuaqmd.org or call the District’s Wildfire Response Coordinator at (707) 443-3093 x122.