Air Quality Summary Report - Pioneer Fire             For: Monday, August 29, 2016 

Air Resource Advisor: Mark Fitch (mark_fitch@nps.gov), ARA (T) Eric Dobbs (eric.dobbs@freshfromflorida.com)

FIRE, WEATHER AND SMOKE SYNOPSIS Weather:  Temps: 78 – 82 high elevation to upper 80’s to low 90’s in the valleys. RH: 11 -15% higher elevations and 9-14% lower valleys. Winds: Up-canyon 5 – 8 mph gusts to 12 after 1300.  Ridges: West-Southwest 12-14 mph gusts to 20.  Inversion will break between noon and 1 pm.   As a low approaches from the northwest, transport wind speeds will increase this afternoon.  Expect southwesterly transport winds this morning that will back towards a south-southwesterly direction this afternoon. Fire Activity:  Moderate to active fire behavior expected today north of highway 17 in the Clear Creek and Deadwood drainages and Deadwood Ridge where winds and slope align. Grass and shrub fuels will be active for uphill runs in valley locations.  Wind/slope alignment will result moderate to high spread rates.  With warmer and drier conditions, unburned pockets of vegetation within the Pioneer perimeter will become more active.  Fire will be more active around the Big Spruce Creek area.  Active fire behavior will continue through tomorrow. Smoke Summary:  Smoke will concentrate in the low valleys this morning but will scour out in the afternoon when SW to SSW winds align with north/south valleys. Today, the most significant smoke impacts will be to Lowman, Stanley and Garden Valley.  Elevated smoke plume may be in Salmon, ID due to strengthening SW flow and increased fire activity.
Air Quality Outlook  (smoke related)
Sites with air quality monitors (based on concentration PM 2.5 ug/m3 24-hr avg.)
Site	Yesterday		Today		Tomorrow		Comments for Today (8/29/16)
Fairfield	Good		Good		Good		Mostly clear throughout the day.  Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Garden City	Good		Good		Good		Mostly clear throughout the day.   Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Garden Valley  School & ICP/Helibase	USG		Moderate		Moderate		Conditions improve after inversion break around 1 pm.
Idaho City	Good		Good		Good		Good throughout the day.
Ketchum	Good		Good		Good		Mostly clear throughout the day.
Meridian	Good		Good		Good		Mostly clear throughout the day.   Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Nampa	Good		Good		Good		Mostly clear throughout the day.   Possible haze in the mid to late morning.  Clearing after inversion lift.
Lowman	Moderate		Moderate		Moderate		Hazy for much of the day.  Some clearing in the early afternoon.
Stanley	USG		USG		Moderate		Morning smoke will dissipate with lifting of inversion.  Can expect high levels of smoke in the early evening hours.
Sites without a monitor
Site		Today		Tomorrow		Comments for Today
Lucky Peak Rec. Area		Good		Good		Conditions improving, but smoke haze will be visible
Centerville		Good		Good		Early morning smoke impacts.  Clearing in early afternoon.
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly. These predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity.

USG – Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Other Websites with Smoke Related Information

For areas without a monitor use the Visibility method to help protect your health from Smoke: https://nmtracking.org

Information about Wildfire Smoke and Your Health: http://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/

                                        

Idaho Smoke Blog: https://idsmoke.blogspot.com