Smoke is becoming an issue statewide; public health officials expand advisory

                        www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov

NEWS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Date: July 17, 2014

Contact:  Niki Forbing-Orr

Public Information Officer

(208) 334-0693

Smoke is becoming an issue statewide; public health officials expand advisory

Smoke from wildfires in Idaho and neighboring states is affecting the air quality in nearly every Idaho community, and public health officials are reminding residents to be aware of the conditions so they can take proper precautions. Air quality in the Treasure Valley is fluctuating and is reaching unhealthy levels at times, and most air quality monitoring across Idaho is currently showing levels in the moderate range. Conditions aren’t expected to change significantly through the weekend.

“As wildfire season continues, air quality will change depending on weather patterns and wildfire activity,” said Jim Vannoy, environmental health manager for the Department of Health and Welfare. “Idahoans should be aware of this and check air quality on a regular basis so they can take appropriate actions if they are planning to work or exercise outside. We’re especially concerned about people who might be more sensitive than most to the smoke in the air.”

Older adults, infants, children and people with medical conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease are more sensitive to poor air quality. People who use inhalers for asthma or other conditions should keep them close at hand. Everyone is advised to seek medical treatment for uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, choking, or if breathing difficulties continues after they move indoors.

To reduce exposure to smoke to protect people’s health, public health officials advise: 

• Everyone should avoid heavy work or exercise outdoors when the air quality index reaches unhealthy levels.
• Visibility can help determine air quality if there is no monitor in your area. If visibility is reduced to less than five miles, sensitive groups should limit activity. If visibility is reduced to less than three miles, air quality is considered unhealthy for everyone. Visibility of less than one mile is considered hazardous and everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors.
• Older adults, small children, and those with respiratory conditions or heart disease may be more sensitive to poor air quality and should stay indoors and avoid heavy work when air quality reaches unhealthy levels.
• Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps dilute phlegm in the respiratory tract, making it easier to cough out smoke particles. Plan to cough; it is nature’s way of clearing your lungs. Avoid caffeine products, sugary drinks and alcohol because they have a dehydrating effect.
• Stay cool if the weather is warm. Run your air conditioner to re-circulate air. Turn the fan blower to manual so it continuously filters the air in your home.
• For homes without a central heating and/or cooling system, use portable air purifiers to remove particles (air purifiers that utilize HEPA filters are best; avoid using air purifiers that produce ozone). Visit places in your community that have air conditioning, such as a library.
• If you wear contact lenses, switch to eyeglasses in a smoky environment.

For more complete information about wildfires in your area, updates on air quality conditions and more resources, visit the Idaho Smoke Information Blog.  

07/17/14 Idaho DEQ Smoke Forecast

Updated 1000 MDT Thursday, July 17, 2014

Valid through Noon MDT Friday, July 18, 2014

Smoke Outlook

Garden Valley continues to see impacts from the Whiskey Complex; however not to the same extent as Idaho City.  Idaho City only received 6 hours of clearing last night and is currently experiencing heavy impacts.  Idaho City is forecast to be Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups today.  Satellite imagery indicates that smoke has settled in drainage basins from the Clearwater south to the Lower Snake River Plain.  The Treasure Valley is currently experiencing smoke impacts from the Whiskey Complex as well as smoke advected into the area from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The north Idaho Panhandle is also currently experiencing impacts from the Canadian and Washington fires with all DEQ monitors reporting elevated concentrations this morning except for a cluster from the eastern Magic Valley to Pocatello and south to the Utah border.  High afternoon temperatures and high mixing heights will cause this smoke to lift and clear out this afternoon before settling once the sun sets.

The weather is currently playing out as forecasts indicated yesterday with winds aloft becoming slightly more westerly with slower wind speeds as high pressure settles in overhead.  Surface winds will follow the terrain and be from the west-northwest in the Treasure Valley and west-southwest from Magic Valley east to the Upper Snake River Plain.  A weak wave and associated frontal passage will move over Idaho today.  There is a slight chance for thunderstorms along the Idaho-Nevada border this afternoon as well as in eastern Idaho generally northeast of a line from Clayton to Blackfoot to Alpine, Wyoming.  These storms provide the potential for frequent lightning and gusty winds around 50 mph.  By Friday, monsoon moisture may leak into Idaho along the Utah border this afternoon providing a chance for isolated storms.  Temperatures will be hot today with a slight cooling tomorrow.  This pattern of westerly flow is forecast to stay over Idaho through Saturday. 

Smoke impacts today are forecast to be higher and more widespread as westerly flow will provide transport of Oregon and Washington wildfires into Idaho.  There have been several holdover fires in the Boise National Forest that will need to be watched for future impacts.  Expect to see smoke and haze across most of the state today.

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.  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

Wildfires cause unhealthy air quality in central Idaho Mountains

NEWS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Date: July 16, 2014

Contact:  Niki Forbing-Orr

Public Information Officer

(208) 334-0693

Wildfires cause unhealthy air quality
in central Idaho mountains

Outdoor activities should be limited in those areas

Air quality in Garden Valley and the Idaho City area has reached an “Unhealthy” designation, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health is alerting people to limit outdoor activity. Because of wildfire activity and weather patterns, air quality conditions are not expected to significantly improve through this week.

People exposed to smoke may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. Older adults, infants, children and people with medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease are often more affected. People who use inhalers for asthma or other conditions should keep them close at hand. Everyone experiencing uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, choking, or difficulty breathing after moving back indoors should seek medical treatment.To reduce your exposure to smoke and protect your health, public health officials advise:

·        Everyone should avoid heavy work or exercise outdoors when the air quality index reaches unhealthy levels.

·        Older adults, small children, and those with respiratory conditions or heart disease may be more sensitive to poor air quality and should stay indoors and avoid heavy work when air quality reaches levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups.

·        Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps dilute phlegm in the respiratory tract, making it easier to cough out smoke particles. Plan on coughing; it is nature’s way of clearing your lungs. Avoid caffeine products, sugary drinks and alcohol because they have a dehydrating effect.

·        Stay cool if the weather is warm. Run your air conditioner to recirculate air. Turn the fan blower on manually so it continuously filters the air in your home.

·        For homes without a central heating and/or cooling system, use portable air purifiers to remove particles. Air purifiers that utilize HEPA filters are best; avoid using air purifiers that produce ozone. Visit buildings in your community that have air conditioning, such as a library or a movie theater.

·        If you wear contact lenses, switch to eyeglasses in a smoky environment.

Not all areas of the state have air quality monitors, so people are encouraged to be cautious if visibility is affected because of smoke and particulates from wildfires. If visibility is reduced to less than eight miles, sensitive groups should limit activity. If visibility is reduced to less than three miles, air quality is considered unhealthy for everyone.

For more complete information about wildfires in your area, daily updates on air quality conditions and more resources, visit the Idaho Smoke Information Blog. 

07/16/14 Idaho DEQ Smoke Forecast

Updated 0900 MDT Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Valid through Noon MDT Thursday, July 17, 2014

Smoke Outlook

Garden Valley continues to be impacted by smoke from the Whiskey Complex to the southeast.  Air quality was in the moderate AQI category yesterday.  The air quality today is forecast to be slightly worse than yesterday.  Air quality is worse in the morning before improving in the afternoon and early evening hours and degrading again once the sun sets.  Yesterday, periods of Very Unhealthy were observed before clearing out the Good after noon.  Garden Valley is forecast to be Moderate today with periods of Unhealthy and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in the morning.  Idaho City is currently experiencing periods of Unhealthy air quality before improving in the afternoon due to impacts from the Whiskey Complex. 

The northwest flow aloft will slowly transition to westerly flow by Thursday.  High pressure will dominate the area over the next two days which will bring warm temperatures and slow surface wind speeds.  The shift to westerly, or zonal, flow will continue to limit any influx of monsoon moisture from the Southwest into Idaho.  This will limit potential thunderstorms through Saturday.

Across the Snake River Plain, winds will be light and generally from the southwest with a strong southerly component over the Upper Snake River Plain.  Wind speeds at the surface will range from 2-10 mph with terrain-driven winds through tonight.  Gusts across the Treasure Valley will reach 15 mph late this afternoon.  Transport winds from the northwest at 5-15 mph.  Mixing heights will range from 7,000-10,000ft AGL this afternoon.  The lower heights and slower wind speeds of these ranges are expected across the Lower and Middle Snake River Plain this afternoon with higher heights and faster wind speeds across the Upper Snake River Plain.  Coupled with daytime heating, this will allow for decent mixing this afternoon. 

Smoke impacts today are forecast to be higher than yesterday in the Treasure Valley and western Magic Valley as surface winds look to be lighter and inversion break times are forecast to be later in the day today.  Inversion break time is forecast to be between 11am and 1pm today across southern Idaho.  This will allow smoke to build at the surface this morning.  Smoke from the fires in the West Central Mountains will continue to impact the local communities in Garden Valley and Idaho City.  Drainage winds are forecast to transport the smoke into the eastern Treasure Valley this morning before moving to the southeast.  Coupled with local fires, transport from Oregon may provide some hazy skies aloft with the possibility of this smoke settling in the Treasure Valley this evening once the sun sets.   The Pittsburgh Fire, 22 miles NW of Riggins can be expected to generate light impacts to communities along the I-95 Corridor from Grangeville to Weiser.

Expect to see light smoke and haze across most of the state today with the southeast being the only region spared.  Smoke from fires in Washington and Canadian British Columbia are forecast transport across northern and central Idaho by 5pm this evening.  Impacts from these sources are expected to be light.  This upper level smoke will likely be a larger contributor Thursday and Friday as the weather pattern shifts to a more zonal flow.

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.  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

07/15/14 Idaho DEQ Smoke Forecast

Updated 1000 MDT Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Valid through Noon MDT Wednesday, July 16, 2014 

Smoke Outlook

The 2014 wildfire season is currently underway as southwest Idaho experienced 20 new fire starts due to lightning on Sunday with additional starts on Monday.  The upper level low pressure system currently located over the borders of northwest Montana, Idaho, and Canadian British Columbia, responsible for thunderstorms over southern Idaho the past two days, is forecast to drop to the southeast along the lee-side of the Rockies.  This will move the convective -and thereby lightning favored- regions to the Eastern Highlands and Wyoming/Idaho/Montana border this afternoon.  Along this region, 50 mph wind gusts are possible near storms.  With the movement of this upper level low pressure system, transport winds will shift to the northwest, providing slightly cooler maximum temperatures this afternoon.  This will also cut off any influx of monsoon moisture from the Great Basin.  

Across the Snake River Plain, winds will be from the northwest in the Lower Snake and from the west-northwest across the Middle and Upper Snake River Plain.  Wind speeds will range from 8-18 mph with gusts from 23-25 mph in the Lower and Middle Snake.  Dispersion is expected to be good as mixing heights range from 6,000-10,000 feet AGL.  This will limit impacts to regions near fires and to the immediate southeast of fires.  This dry northwest flow aloft will persist into Saturday.

Smoke impacts today are forecast to be light and will likely be in the Garden Valley and Idaho City areas with transport this afternoon across the Middle Snake River Plain to Twin Falls as the northwest winds will transport smoke from the Whiskey Complex and Blue Jay fire.  Nocturnal drainage flows will transport this smoke south into the Upper Treasure Valley, impacting Boise, before moving southeast along the valley and into Mountain Home.  Impacts from large wildfires in Oregon are not expected to impact Idaho today; however, impacts may be possible late Wednesday evening as transport winds shift from northwest to a more westerly flow.

Air quality monitors indicated Unhealthy in Idaho City and Moderate in Garden Valley this morning.  Daytime heating and good mixing will allow for clearing in the afternoon.

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.  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