7/16/2014 New fires leading to new smoke

Some of the lightning strikes from Sunday and Monday are developing into full blown wildfires and air quality is deteriorating in various places around the state.   Fire managers and air quality experts are working to get a good picture of what all is happening and will continue to provide forecasts and updates on this site to help keep citizens informed of air quality conditions and risks.

The seriousness of the situation is reflected by the Governor's declaration of a State of Emergency in 20 Eastern Washington counties.

Air Quality Advisory 7/16/14 11:00 am

Air Quality Advisory Wednesday 11 am

 

Leavenworth “Unhealthy”

Wenatchee “Moderate”

Chelan “Good”

 

When air quality is in the unhealthy range everyone is at risk of being affected by the smoke. Outdoor physical activities should be cancelled. At this point you should limit exposure to outside air and do not do anything that would increase your breathing rate, people should avoid any exertion.

In your vehicle use the recycle mode on your interior air system.  If possible, go to an area unaffected by the wildfire smoke until the smoke clears, especially if you are having symptoms like headaches, dizziness or nausea or having increased respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath.

Keep windows closed. Limit time outdoors. If you are having significant problems talk to your health care provider.

 

When air quality is in the moderate range the people most impacted are those with underlying conditions like asthma, lung diseases or heart disease, the very young or very old. Limit time outdoors and limit physical exertion to very short periods until air quality improves.

Air quality forecast, Tuesday 15 July 2014

Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

 

Some localized heavy rain, lightning strikes and new fires were all packaged in with Monday’s weather. As the low pressure system responsible for all that departs the region, it is sucking some smoke from fires in British Columbia over north central and northeastern Washington today. Most but not all of this smoke is expected to stay aloft, partially obscure visibility and cause pretty sunsets.

 

Tuesday (15 July) and Wednesday will be hot through much of eastern Washington. Air quality has stayed between Good to Moderate in most areas. As Janice states below, smoke from the Mills Canyon fire might increase temporarily today. Winds are expected to drive the smoke south and southeast, well into the Columbia Basin. Entiat, Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Yakima and Tri Cities are likely to see some smoke. In addition new fires between Goldendale and Lyle in Klickitat County are likely to blow some smoke into the southern Columbia Basin.

 

On Wednesday and Thursday winds turn westerly so smoke will likely blow across the basin into Idaho. Things cool down a bit by Friday and winds turn southwesterly. While the new fire starts are still being investigated, it is possible that some fires in northern Oregon will begin to impact sections of south central and southeast Washington by Friday.

 

Air quality in eastern Washington through Friday 18 July is likely to vary between Good and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

 

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory through Wednesday evening for much of eastern Washington, and a Fire Weather Watch through Thursday evening for the western part of the Columbia Basin. Please check these links for details and necessary precautions.

 

Thanks.

 

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Ranil Dhammapala, PhD.

Atmospheric Scientist

Washington State Department of Ecology

P.O Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Tel: 360-407-6807

Fax: 360-407-7534

Email: ranil.dhammapala@ecy.wa.gov

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7/15/2014 Planned Burnout on Mill Canyon Fire for 10am Today (Tuesday) could increase smoke in the area

Air quality forecast, Friday 11 July 2014

Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

 

The Mills Canyon fire has grown to over 18,000 acres now and there are reports of a few new fires in Chelan county. As of 1PM today, the new air quality monitor at Entiat is showing Unhealthy air. Air quality in Leavenworth and Wenatchee have been hovering between Moderate and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Due to the absence of south winds, Chelan has mostly been spared of smoke thus far. Some smoke drifted eastward over north-central Washington, but has mostly stayed aloft.

 

Overhead smoke might in fact trim a few degrees off blistering daytime temperatures in some areas over the next few days. Cities near the fires including Entiat, Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Chelan will continue to see periodic smoke impacts at ground level. Winds will be weak to moderate, mostly driven by local terrain. Smoke is unlikely to blow far into the Columbia basin but could push up against the Cascades through Sunday and may even cause some hazy conditions just west of the Cascade crest. However no significant smoke is expected in western Washington.

 

There is a chance of some dry lightning on Sunday night into Monday in the northern mountains of Washington. The heat wave is set to continue through Wednesday at least.

 

As an aside, some users might have noticed intermittent discrepancies in colors shown on the map of air quality monitors above, and those reported on the Department of Ecology's official page. This is because Ecology’s method of calculating the air quality category (i.e. “Good”, “Moderate”, Unhealthy” etc) is more protective of public health than the method used by EPA. Please contact me if you’d like further details.

 

Have a nice weekend!

 

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Ranil Dhammapala, PhD.

Atmospheric Scientist

Washington State Department of Ecology

P.O Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Tel: 360-407-6807

Fax: 360-407-7534

Email: ranil.dhammapala@ecy.wa.gov

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7/11/2014 Monitor now in place in Entiat

A portable, temporary air monitor is now in place on the roof of the high school in Entiat and has been collecting samples since Thursday afternoon.  The values shown in the graphic below are 1-hour averages (which do not convert directly to health warning categories but we're working on it).

Also, the display times (shown along the bottom of the graph) are in "Coordinated Universal Time" or UTC so you need to subtract 7 hours to get local time (Pacific Daylight Time).  So for example, the peak reading from the instrument was recorded at 07:00 UTC which would translate to midnight last night local time.

The peak value was about 130 µg/m3 (micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter of air).  These readings certainly reveal smoky conditions in Entiat!  More specific health warnings to follow as this new data is analysed by our experts.  In the short term, please contact Chelan/Douglas Health District or a medical professional if you have specific concerns about heath effects from the smoke.

7/9/2014 Portable Air Monitor on it's way to Entiat

The Forest Service has ordered a portable air monitor and will set it up in Entiat later this afternoon to add information for a community that is not currently represented by the state monitoring network.  We should begin receiving values from it by this evening some time.  We are also watching for other communities or areas that may be impacted by smoke but are not represented by current monitoring and can get additional monitors if needed.  Stay tuned for updates.

Smoky Conditions July 9

AIR QUALITY ADVISORY

 

Smoky Conditions in Some Areas near or Downwind from the Mills Canyon Fire

Chelan Douglas Health District and the Department of Ecology are monitoring the local air quality conditions as fire season begins. Air quality throughout parts of Chelan and Douglas Counties is presently being impacted by the fire near Entiat.  However, air quality conditions vary greatly between locations and most areas are smoke free.

In smoky conditions, individuals with pre-existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma and emphysema, the elderly, and children should limit or avoid any outdoor activity.  Sensitive people are advised to remain indoors with windows and doors closed, avoid excessive exertion, and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke or other respiratory irritants. 

Visiting an area that is not being impacted by smoke can be helpful if you are experiencing symptoms. Adverse symptoms may include dizziness, headache, difficulty breathing, coughing, excessive phlegm, and nausea.  Conditions may not adversely affect the general population.  For specific medical advice contact your physician.

More information is available concerning air quality and current fire conditions at the following websites:

Ecology:                     https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

Forest Service:           http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Air quality forecast, Wednesday 9 July 2014

Air Quality forecast, Wednesday 9 July 2014
Issued by Ranil Dhammapala, Washington State Dept. of Ecology

As Janice noted below, the Mills Canyon fire near Entiat is creating a lot of smoke. Satellites have detected a fire near Quincy but it appears much smaller than the one near Entiat. The last few frames of the visible satellite imagery on Tuesday night suggest that smoke from the Mills Canyon fire blew across Entiat, Ephrata and Moses Lake. The passage of a dry front this morning may have helped prevent a worse buildup of smoke, even though some smoke still lingers on.

Weather and air quality forecast models suggest that smoke is likely to impact these areas again later today & tomorrow. Smoke will also blow further into the Columbia basin on Thursday. Wenatchee and East Wenatchee might see some smoke early Thursday AM & night. Winds turn east on Friday and Saturday, which might bring some clearing to the Basin, but will push smoke up against the Cascades. Chelan and Stehekin could potentially see some smoke on Friday & Saturday.

In spite of east winds, the smoke from the Mills Canyon fire is not expected to impact Western WA over the next few days.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, as dry, windy conditions develop in the Columbia basin now through this evening. These can cause fires to spread rapidly.

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=red%20flag%20warning

We are expecting a strong ridge of high pressure that could lead to a 4+ day hot spell starting Saturday. Does not bode well for fire safety nor smoke dispersion.

Smoke dispersion forecasts will be made available as necessary.

Thanks.

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Ranil Dhammapala, PhD.
Atmospheric Scientist
Washington State Department of Ecology
P.O Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Tel: 360-407-6807
Fax: 360-407-7534
Email: ranil.dhammapala@ecy.wa.gov
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07/09/2014 Mills Canyon Fire 5000 Acres and Growing

The Mills Canyon Fire outside of Entiat is heating up today and sending some smoke into the area.  Air quality at the monitoring sites seems to be fine or just lightly impacted at the moment.  There is recent news of another fire near Quincy and a couple of other small ones in Douglas and Grant Counties.  There is currently a bump in air pollution levels (to Moderate) in Moses Lake.  The satellite image below (taken yesterday - July 8) shows smoke from the Mills Canyon fire.

General info on the Mills Canyon Fire:

U.S. FOREST SERVICE FIRE UPDATE

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801

Date: July 9, 2014 – 8:00 a.m.

Contacts: Mick Mueller, 509-664-9314

                

Mills Canyon Fire Update

               Entiat—The Mills Canyon Fire, located approximately four miles west of Entiat, is now estimated to be upwards of 5000 acres.  Firefighters from Washington Department of Natural Resources, Chelan County Fire Districts and U.S. Forest Service have worked through the night on the fire. 

An Evacuation Level 3 is in effect for Mills Canyon and Dinkleman Canyon and an Evacuation Level 2 from milepost 1.5 on the Entiat River Road to Dinkleman Canyon has been issued by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Department. Evacuation Level 1 notices have been issued for Swakane Canyon, Sherman Canyon and US 97A from Swakane to Entiat River Road.

LEVEL 1—A level 1 Evacuation means alert. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, and monitor local media outlets for information.

LEVEL 2—A Level 2 Evacuation means be ready. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready at a moment’s notice.

                    LEVEL 3—A Level 3 Evacuation means leave immediately. Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should leave immediately.

Approximately two hundred and fifty firefighters and fifteen fire engines are battling the blaze located on private, DNR and Forest Service lands. Three air tankers from Moses Lake, a heavy helicopter and three medium helicopters have been dispatched to the fire to assist ground resources now on scene at the fire.

The fire started Tuesday afternoon around 12:20 and is burning in grass, brush and timber stringers in drainages. The topography is very steep terrain.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A shelter has been set up for anyone displaced by the fire at the Entiat High School at 2650 Entiat Way in Entiat. A Washington Incident Management Team will also set up an Incident Command Post at that location this morning and take over command of the fire.