Fire & Smoke Home
Air Monitoring Particulate Data
2006 Forest Fire Air Quality Updates
August 12, 2006
10:00 AM
Current Situation
The only smoke in this morning’s report is at the Gash Creek fire in the northern Bitterroot Valley. The smoke from that fire can be clearly seen in this morning’s satellite photo. There is likely some other local smoke from the active fires in the state but it is under the clouds or not thick enough to be seen in this photo. The rest of the state looks great with blue sky and clear horizons on tap as the clouds clear. The initial attack crews have been doing a great job catching all of the new starts and keeping them small and only local impacts are seen at this time. Residents in areas with nearby fires should pay attention to current conditions and use the VISIBILITY GUIDELINES to determine smoke levels in their area and guide their activity decisions.
Morning satellite photo centered on Great Falls
Webcams
Red Eagle MT from St. Mary Visitor Center
The Big Mountain Ski area webcam near Whitefish
The DEQ webcam looking north to the "Sleeping Giant" mountain
This morning’s analysis from NOAA’s satellite services division shows the active fires in Montana and the smoke plumes combining and spreading downwind (the analyzed smoke is based on yesterday’s satellite coverage, the fire detects are based on last nights satellite coverage).
Red indicates hot spot detected. Grey represents smoke seen by satellite. Fire
size is exaggerated for visibility at this scale. To identify individual fires on graphic above go
here: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
Real time particulate information is currently available in most of the larger urban areas from several different sources including: DEQ run PM-10 BAMS and PM2.5 BAMS, NWS ASOS visibility monitors, and USFS remote access Nephelometers and BAMS.
This morning’s smoke report is below, comparing particulate levels where we have information to MDEQ’s Forest Fire health advisory levels. Smoke Categories
Updated 10:00 AM August 12, 2006
Locations and severity of forest fire smoke reports since midnight of the date above at reporting stations.
| Smoke Conditions | City |
|---|---|
| Hazardous | |
| Very Unhealthy | |
| Unhealthy | Gash Creek (est) |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
| Moderate |
|
| Good |
|
T1(x) |
One-hour TEOM value (number of values) |
| T8(x) | Eight-hour average TEOM value (number of values) |
| T24 | 24 hour average TEOM value |
| Vis(x) | Visibility value (number of hours) |
| Vis(am/pm) | Visibility value from twice/day reporting stations |
Local impacts in areas immediately adjacent to active fires are expected to exceed some or all of the advisory levels. DEQ recommends the use of local visibility guidelines to evaluate possible health risks and make informed activity decisions.
Forecast
Transport winds will be from the northwest in the northwestern part of the state and from the southwest elsewhere. There are showers and clouds along the convergence zone for good dispersion in most areas. Smoke from Idaho will be drawn up into the state again today and impacts are likely in southwestern Montana. Local impacts near active fires will need attention. Residents should stay aware of their situation and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
John Coefield
Meteorologist
MDEQ
