tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.comments2024-03-12T12:57:38.888-07:00Washington Smoke InformationAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02805458767756368831noreply@blogger.comBlogger2738125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-71883503408701247542024-01-03T07:45:05.095-08:002024-01-03T07:45:05.095-08:00New Years fireworksNew Years fireworksFarren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-79554892873061182232024-01-01T19:26:18.265-08:002024-01-01T19:26:18.265-08:00hello, why is the air quality moderate right now i...hello, why is the air quality moderate right now in seattle when there aren't any fires? thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-29042325705554668162023-11-01T07:30:05.220-07:002023-11-01T07:30:05.220-07:00All smoke is bad for your health, so protecting yo...All smoke is bad for your health, so protecting yourself from smoke impacts is important regardless of the sources. Burning of yard waste is illegal in cities and urban growth areas. If your neighbor is unresponsive to requests, you can call 1-866-211-6284 to report them. See these two sites for more information: https://ecology.wa.gov/footer-pages/report-an-environmental-issue/report-burning-and-air-quality-issues https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Air-quality/Smoke-fire/Outdoor-residential-burning Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-86288099923729674692023-10-31T23:57:24.234-07:002023-10-31T23:57:24.234-07:00I have a lung disease and have had issues with our...I have a lung disease and have had issues with our neighbors burning yard debris and wood. The smoke hurts my lungs and ability to function in many ways. Wildfires are just at bad. Why is one knowingly terrible for our health but the other is still acceptable for others to be around? They are both wood smoke and harmful. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-49998980777977279172023-09-29T18:41:00.646-07:002023-09-29T18:41:00.646-07:00Thanks as always for your diligent and valuable wo...Thanks as always for your diligent and valuable work, and congratulations on 10 million page views for this blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-40922782642730094942023-09-27T07:45:54.447-07:002023-09-27T07:45:54.447-07:00Kitsap County is under Puget Sound Clean Air Agenc...Kitsap County is under Puget Sound Clean Air Agency jurisdiction. Their site suggests that if talking to your neighbor doesn't work, you should file a complaint ( https://pscleanair.org/262/File-a-Complaint ). It goes on to say "After you submit your complaint, an inspector will evaluate it for an appropriate response. For first time offenders, we send a letter notifying them that a complaint has been filed against them, as well as educational materials on clean burning techniques and the rules on indoor burning." <br /><br />Burning dry seasoned wood is legal, but burning trash is not. Their is also an opacity law ( https://pscleanair.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2431/Wood-Smoke-Opacity-GIF ). So, if your neighbor is consistently burning trash or having issues with their stove combustion efficiency, reporting it regularly may help them change their behavior (since they might start getting fined). There are also wood-stove change-out grants available, to help people upgrade their old dirty stoves ( https://www.pscleanair.gov/409/Wood-Stove-Program ). <br />A concerted effort is often needed to convince residents to change their burning behavior. Communication, education, and funding assistance are key to this endeavor. <br /><br />Air quality agencies are not police, so their only avenue of enforcement is to issue fines to repeat offenders or call the fire department (e.g. for outdoor burners). Also keep in mind that depending on the number of complaints, inspectors can't go out to every home (There are 10 inspectors in PSCAA, and their primary duty is to inspect permitted facilities). Please reach out to PS Clean Air if you need more information.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-34721002549706991182023-09-26T18:11:59.119-07:002023-09-26T18:11:59.119-07:00I live in a part of Kitsap County where my neighbo...I live in a part of Kitsap County where my neighbors use their wood burning stoves often in the cold months, and the smoke gets into my yard and home. It can be so strong at times and we have a small child, so I worry. I tried to approach one of our neighbors about this issue, and I was met with hostility and denial. I reported them to some agency, but there seems to be no enforcement. What can we do to change laws and keep people safe? How can I get involved at the state or more local level? I can't find information or who to contact about this issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-69645954033357522202023-09-25T07:08:10.495-07:002023-09-25T07:08:10.495-07:00Keep in mind that residential wood-smoke from home...Keep in mind that residential wood-smoke from home-heating will be the biggest source of smoke in most areas, now that cooler weather has set in. Those smoke impacts typically peak at night and early mornings.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-69471171143402595432023-09-22T22:47:09.431-07:002023-09-22T22:47:09.431-07:00Thank you for the constant updates and articles. T...Thank you for the constant updates and articles. This blog is my primary resource when I start to see smog or smell smoke in the air.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-43208556974510582422023-08-31T08:36:41.572-07:002023-08-31T08:36:41.572-07:00Looks like the near-surface winds in the cool hour...Looks like the near-surface winds in the cool hours are pushing smoke right into that area from the Camp Creek fire. The forecasted rain should help out, but those near-surface wind patterns could cause a repeat tomorrow morning.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-48483840823906091622023-08-31T07:41:50.344-07:002023-08-31T07:41:50.344-07:00What's the cause of the sudden increase in smo...What's the cause of the sudden increase in smoke in the Portland / Vancouver area? Are the rains quenching the Camp Creek fire and producing more smoke? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-24916578295980723722023-08-30T09:00:51.690-07:002023-08-30T09:00:51.690-07:00Yesterday in the tri-cities area, air quality fluc...Yesterday in the tri-cities area, air quality fluctuated between good and moderate. Smoke higher up in the atmosphere might have been contributing to the haze you were seeing. The map at the top of this page includes permanent air quality monitors operated by state, local, and tribal air quality professionals (circle symbols), temporary monitors deployed by agencies (triangles), and privately owned low-cost sensors from Purple Air, with EPA's correction equation applied (squares). The monitoring data is reported and averaged hourly, and the dots and their colors on the map are a "NowCast", which relates the current and previous hourly PM2.5 concentrations to the Air Quality Index. The NowCast is meant to give you a sense of what precautions you should take now, based not on just the most recent concentration but also on trends--the NowCast uses longer averages during times when air quality is stable and shorter averages when air quality is quickly changing.<br /><br />Private companies like Apple and AirVisual are not subject to the same requirements around data transparency and quality assurance that guide public monitoring agencies such as the Department of Ecology. AirVisual says that sensor data are "subjected to a data calibration and correction process", but does not provide details about what this process actually entails. Similarly, the air quality data used in the iphone weather app also does not provide information about their data sources, averaging times, and quality control processes, and since their data doesn't match official data channels I can't provide much more information. I would encourage you to look to public agency sources for trusted air quality information.Beth Friedman - WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06590367592770508944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-7123900715446904192023-08-29T16:57:54.315-07:002023-08-29T16:57:54.315-07:00Hi Farren- can you shed a little light on the diff...Hi Farren- can you shed a little light on the differences between what Apple Iphone IOS weather updates provide regarding air quality and the information on your maps above? I am sitting in Richland, WA. According to the map above, our air should be Good. As I look outside, I see quite a bit of haze toward the east, obscuring Kennewick and Pasco. Additionally, my Iphone weather app shows our air quality at 120. Currently it shows a large, orange ball of bad air over the Tri Cities area on the map. When I look at another air quality application I have called AirVisual, it is also showing Tri Cities in the green with good air. Your map above is showing good air. So I am confused. Which one is the most accurate- or can you explain the discrepancy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-90200232136551444782023-08-29T07:54:17.481-07:002023-08-29T07:54:17.481-07:00An AQI of 100 is equivalent to "Moderate"...An AQI of 100 is equivalent to "Moderate". By the NWS definition, an Air Quality Alert is only to be issued for "Unhealthy" air or worse (AQI of 150 or higher for a daily average). Concerning your opinion about our lack of information compared to previous years, perhaps you are just looking at "new posts". If so, you are missing most of the content on this blog. There is a 5-day forecast map that is updated daily on the blog. Also, there are several Local Smoke Outlooks that are updated daily that you should review if you are looking for more detailed information. I suggest you use those forecasts because we spend a lot of time developing them daily. There are many tools and links on this blog that should be reviewed if you are looking for ways to protect yourself from smoke, not just "new posts". You are also welcome to post comments and ask questions if need more information.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-4436124348722843772023-08-29T07:41:25.451-07:002023-08-29T07:41:25.451-07:00Thanks for your question. I'll try to unpack ...Thanks for your question. I'll try to unpack all this. 1) It's going to rain quite a bit this week, so I would expect smoke production to be reduced in the coming days (though Labor day weekend is still several days out); 2) The plume image is the average of the 8 HYSPLIT runs that Ecology does with no manual intervention and no clean air agency input (and HYSPLIT doesn't have deposition from rain in the simulation, it's just a plume and dispersion simulator); 3) Western Washington is covered by Clean Air Agencies that submit their forecasts to AirNow (which is what's shown on the AQI colored map; see here: https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/Documents/SmokeForecast.pdf ). Please let us know if you have any other questions.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-45047265357345230582023-08-29T07:19:12.103-07:002023-08-29T07:19:12.103-07:00There should have been air quality alerts this wee...There should have been air quality alerts this weekend as the PM 2.5 AQI was well over 100 in my area over the weekend. The clearing predicted on Tuesday is not happening and there is not update as when to expect clean air. Also, I feel this blog was not updated enough this season. Many of us depend on this blog to get through the smoke season. While I appreciate what you do, you did a lot less this year than previous years on informing the public on how to remain safe. I know you won't post my comment but I wanted you to know that you need to do more, like you have done in the past. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-49537973646370338202023-08-28T16:56:43.756-07:002023-08-28T16:56:43.756-07:00Hello Beth (and/or other folks at WA Ecology). We&...Hello Beth (and/or other folks at WA Ecology). We're wondering if you might have an updated forecast for smoke over the labor day weekend? I've looked at https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/text/421#Forecast, for example, but it seems to give contradictory information depending on if you look at the colored vs plume versions of the forecast (e.g., on Sep 1st, green is shown in the western WA region but at the same time the plume image shows light to moderate smoke, but perhaps I'm misinterpreting something). Thanks again for providing this valuable and informative blog that you do!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-56413996317000903942023-08-26T11:15:13.698-07:002023-08-26T11:15:13.698-07:00I always learn so much from conversations like thi...I always learn so much from conversations like this. Thank you to the people commenting with the questions and a big thank you to Farren and Beth for the engaging replies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-84845490326769314472023-08-26T11:13:12.336-07:002023-08-26T11:13:12.336-07:00These explanations were great Farren! Thank you so...These explanations were great Farren! Thank you so much!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-20012676543963900822023-08-25T14:52:12.368-07:002023-08-25T14:52:12.368-07:00Thank you Beth :) Thank you Beth :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-17764496088430394042023-08-25T08:29:19.661-07:002023-08-25T08:29:19.661-07:00Hi Scott! These are Ecology's portable low-cos...Hi Scott! These are Ecology's portable low-cost PM2.5 sensors, and they were set up by the Central Regional Office. Beth Friedman - WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06590367592770508944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-69217350950607993002023-08-25T07:32:41.431-07:002023-08-25T07:32:41.431-07:00Good morning, I noticed on the public ECY air mon...Good morning, I noticed on the public ECY air monitoring website that new mobile air monitors have been set up in towns like Oroville, Entiat and Manson. I am curious what type of air monitoring samplers are these and which regional office set them up. Thanks, Scott Honodel (former ECY)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-23354109662884691582023-08-24T14:36:29.194-07:002023-08-24T14:36:29.194-07:00We just posted an updated forecast. Moderate to US...We just posted an updated forecast. Moderate to USG smoke will likely impact northern counties for a couple of days, and areas near fires will be intermittently smoky. Beth Friedman - WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06590367592770508944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-51668196747929813432023-08-24T09:16:03.509-07:002023-08-24T09:16:03.509-07:00Looks like it's coming back for the whole week...Looks like it's coming back for the whole weekend again?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-80077769799699095372023-08-23T08:37:48.486-07:002023-08-23T08:37:48.486-07:00We would prefer to be able to issue AQA's that...We would prefer to be able to issue AQA's that say "until further notice", but NWS doesn't allow that. It's important to consider that predicting smoke concentrations days into the future is exponentially more difficult than predicting meteorology. We generally follow the advice of NWS when it comes to end times, but there is a lot of uncertainty. It's not uncommon for the forecast to change as events develop. So, it's standard practice for AQAs to be revised through the duration of the event. NWS also wants AQAs only when it is expected to be Unhealthy AQI or worse, so we don't do long-duration AQAs when smoke is intermittent. Other NWS warnings also get extended (or expire early) as needed. Also consider that our state has 7 clean air agencies, 3 Ecology offices, and 3 NWS offices to coordinate with for AQAs... so if an AQA goes out on a Friday for the weekend, most state workers are unavailable to make changes to the AQA until Monday morning. Thus you will often see AQA's issued on Friday that go through Monday. On Monday, we would re-assess conditions and revise the AQA if needed.Farren Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13052171410330415242noreply@blogger.com