Idaho Smoke Map

Idaho Smoke Map Legend

**(Preliminary Data Warning: Data found on the map shown below is preliminary and is subject to change. Data is in local standard time format - no adjustment for daylight savings time.)

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

8/14/13 Idaho DEQ Smoke Forecast

Updated Noon MDT August 14, 2013

Valid through noon MDT August 15, 2013 

Smoke Outlook

Idaho DEQ is continuing a Stage 1 Forecast and Caution for Camas, Blaine, Elmore, and Boise Counties due to wildfire smoke.  DEQ has lifted the Stage 1 for Custer County due to improved air quality.

The Ketchum/Hailey area is currently experiencing Hazardous air quality due to smoke from the Beaver Creek fire.  Significant smoke impacts are expected to continue in the Ketchum/Hailey area through tomorrow morning.  Air quality is forecasted to be in the Unhealthy with periods in the Very Unhealthy and Hazardous.  Sensitive groups such as people with heart and/or lung disease, adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women should avoid all outdoor activities until air quality improves. Everyone else should minimize outdoor activities.  When air quality is in the hazardous category (visibility of less than 1 mile) everyone should stay indoors and avoid exertion.

Light west-northwest winds will transport smoke from the fires in Elmore County and near Fairfield towards the central Idaho mountains area, including areas in and around Stanley and Ketchum.  Southeast Treasure Valley and Mountain Home areas are expected to have moderate to significant smoke impacts due to smoke from the Elk Complex fires.  The smoke is expected to partially dissipate in the late afternoon today. However, the smoke will drain back into the areas tonight and tomorrow morning.  The Snake River Valley is expected to have light to moderate smoke impacts.

3 emergency monitors have been installed in Idaho to help monitor smoke impacts from wildfires:

·         The USFS installed monitors in Lowman, Atlanta, and Challis.  The information can be found at http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/smoke.pl

o    Lowman monitor is Smoke#19

o    Atlanta monitor is Smoke#13

o    Challis monitor is Smoke#21

o    Users should be aware that the Forest Service site reports the data in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).  To convert from UTS to Mountain Daylight Time, subtract 6 hours.

DEQ has installed an emergency monitor in Fairfield.  The monitor should be operational later today or tomorrow morning.  Visit http://app.airsis.com/USFS/fleet.aspx.

View DEQ near-real time monitoring at:  http://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/

Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather.  If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur.  Communities nearby active fires may experience periods of air quality which are Moderate (visibility of 6-10 miles).  When visibility starts to go below 5 miles, sensitive groups should minimize outdoor activities.  Everyone else should minimize prolonged or physical activity outdoors.  Refer to the Smoke and Health Tab on the Idaho Smoke Information Blog for additional health information. 

Your eyes are your best tools to determine if it’s safe to be outside.  Even if you smell smoke, the air quality may still be good. 

AQI Category

Visibility (miles)

Good

11+

Moderate

6-10

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

3-5

Unhealthy

1½  -2¾

Very Unhealthy

1-1¼ 

Hazardous

Less than 1

 

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