8/6/2013 Burnout operations on Colockum Tarps Fire could increase smoke output

A "burn-out" is a useful tool for gaining control of a wildfire and preventing it from spreading out-of-control.  Firefighters on Colockum Tarps plan to use this technique of controlled use of fire to create buffer areas in the coming days.  This may result in some extra smoke and emissions in the area of the wildfire, especially along the west perimeter.  

Lower humidity optimum for burn-out operations on the 

west perimeter of the Colockum Tarps Fire

Wenatchee, Wash. – Fire managers found a window of opportunity yesterday afternoon to initiate burn-out operations in Division C on the west flank of the Colockum Tarps Fire. Relative humidity dropped enough for a successful test burn. Fire crews then started igniting along prepared, reinforced firelines to remove unburned ground fuels and create a blackened strip. The burned area was patrolled by crews throughout the night.

Today firefighters are expected to continue burnout along the west fire perimeter to create a continuous broad buffer. Once the blackened line area is sufficiently wide and cool, burnout of more interior fuels will proceed using aerial ignition techniques. Aerial ignition uses ping-pong-ball-like spheres filled with chemicals that, once ejected from an aircraft, ignite after hitting the ground. The spheres are spread in pattern intended to burn out large areas yet avoid undue damage. Aerial application is useful for burning out areas too steep or inaccessible for firefighters to safely enter.  Aerial ignition is likely to be implemented within the next 36 hours when the reinforced fireline is ready and weather conditions are right to obtain the intended result.

More details area available here: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/3567/19781/

And here: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3567/

Burn ban stage 1 continues until further notice for Yakima County

Effective: 12:00 p.m. PDT today, Monday, August 5, 2012:

The Pollution Control Officer for the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency declared a Stage 1 Burn Ban for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas last week, due to residual smoke originating from wildfires.

Air quality has improved over the weekend. However, the lower valley still experiencing higher concentration of fine particulates than normal (Moderate).

Because any outdoor burning in the Upper County area can adversely impact the Lower County area, the Stage 1 Burn Ban will continue until further notice in both areas. However, if conditions continue as expected, watch for us to lift the burn ban by Wednesday August 7, 2013.

·       PM2.5 Air Quality levels are into the Moderate (Yellow) level in the Lower County area, and

·       PM2.5 Air Quality levels are into the Good (Green) level for the Upper County area.

·       Agricultural Burn allocation are 0  piles per request for Upper and 0 for the Lower Today.

·       Dispersion for our jurisdiction is Poor to Poor.

·       Ventilation for our jurisdiction is Poor to Poor.

·       Wind speed  ~ North to Northwest at 6 mph, increasing to 10 mph at night.

Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation.  The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

 

For further information on wildfires in Washington State,  you can visit the Washington Smoke Blog at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

 

Reminder:

 During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

1.   All Outdoor Burning, including Residential and Agricultural burning, is prohibited;

2.   Although few are using home heating this time of year,

a.   the use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;

b.   No excessive smoke (over 20% opacity) is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and

3.   All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Hasan Tahat, Ph.D.

Engineering and Planning Division Supervisor

Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency

Tel:  (509) 834-2050 ext. 105

Fax: (509) 834-2060

E-mail:  hasan@yrcaa.org 

 

 

8/5/2013 EPA Continues Burn Ban for Yakama Reservation

EPA Continues Burn Ban for Yakama Reservation

Contact:
Gary Olson, 206-553-0977, olson.gary@epa.gov
Keith Rose, 206-553-1949, rose.keith@epa.gov,

(Seattle, Wash. – August 5, 2013)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 will continue a burn ban on all outdoor burning on the Yakama Reservation through Wednesday, August 7th at 12 PM due to the impact of smoke from wildfires.  This smoke has caused monitor readings to be elevated above levels normally expected for this time of year.   Weather patterns and expectations for control of these wild fires would indicate that conditions for levels to reach unhealthy for sensitive people continues to exist.  Therefore this burn ban will be in place through till Wednesday, August 7th when the situation will be re-evaluated.

 

For further information on wildfires in Washington State,  you can visit the Washington Smoke Blog at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

 

The burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries.   Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts.  Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period.  Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with difficulty breathing and with heart and lung problems.  Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm

 

 

 

Gary Olson

EPA R-10

Suite 900 ,AWT-107

1200 6th AVE

Seattle, WA 98101

206-553-0977

 

Wildfire Smoke Update 8-05-2013

Updated Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) chart

Fire facts from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center Colockum Tarps WA-WFS-349. IMT2 (Nickey/Gales). 12 mi SE of Wenatchee, WA. Start 7/27,2013. Full Suppression. Grass, brush, timber. Cause under investigation. 80,400 acres (+0)ac. 60% containment. WA State Fire mobilization authorized. Level 1,2 and 3 evacuations. Moderate fire behavior. Natural and cultural resources as well as wind farm infrastructures remain at risk. Methow Complex WA-NES-000619. ICT3 (Shank). Near Twisp, WA. Start 7/31/2013. Full Suppression. Grass, timber. Cause lightning. 50 acres (+0). 50% containment. Includes; Dry Water 10 ac (+9) 100% containment., Keystone 700 ac 30% containment., Keystone North 300 ac. 30% containment. Knox 85 ac (+0) 30% containment., Mclaughlin Canyon 30 ac. 30% containment., Turtle Lake 25 ac (+24). 0% containment. Updated acreage  unavailable for individual fires in complex. Moore Point WA-OWF-000366. ICT3 (Schmidt). 35 mi NW of Chelan, WA. Start 7/28/2013. Point Zone Protection. Timber. Cause lightning. 1,538 acres (+0). 40% containment. Minimal fire  behavior. Limited access. No update received. Mile Marker 28 WA-YAA-000081. IMT2 (Rabe). 15 mi NE of Goldendale, WA. Start 7/24/2013. Full Suppression. Timber, brush. Cause under investigation . 27,104 acres (+2). 91% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk include commercial timber, cultural resources, powerline infrastructure, and T&E species. IMT3 transition 8/6. Riverside Block Complex WA-NES-000627. ICT3 (Knowlton). Near Riverside, WA. Start 8/01/2013. Full Suppression. Grass, timber. Cause lightning. 1,024 acres. (-576) 90% containment.

Local media updates Ellensburg  Goldendale   Wenatchee

Smoke Forecast The week begins with generally good air quality across the state except for White Swan, Toppenish, and Harrah which continue to have occasional spikes which keep them in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups categories.  The Seattle Duwamish monitor is also showing Moderate air quality.  Over the next three days smoke from the fires will generally be pushed northward at the beginning of the period gradually shifting to eastward by Wednesday.  There will also be periods of little movement each day which will allow the smoke to accumulate in the vicinity of the fires.  However the smoke output of all fires in Central Washington is much less than last week as the fire crews gain control.                                                                                                                                                                                                     The longer range outlook maintains dry weather until Thursday when the possibility of convective activity could produce precipitation and lightning.  Last night's model run develops significant precipitation, first along the Cascades but then later in the week across broad portions of Eastern Washington and finally including the Puget Sound lowlands by Saturday.  If the forecast quantity of precipitation verifies, the fires should be reduced to just some smoldering and this smoke episode will conclude by next Monday.

http://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/index.php?satellite=t1&product=true_color&date=2013_08_04_216&overlay_sector=false&overlay_state=true&overlay_coastline=true&sector=USA1&resolution=1000m

08/02/2013 Wildfire smoke update

Updated Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) chart

Fire facts from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center

Colockum Tarps. IMT2 (Nickey/Gales). 12 mi SE of Wenatchee, WA. Start 7/27,2013. Full Suppression. Grass,  brush, timber. Cause under investigation. 80,108 acres (+10,108). 30% containment. WA State Fire mobilization  authorized. Level 3 evacuations. Extreme fire behavior. Natural and cultural resources as well as wind farm  infrastructures remain at risk. Mile Marker 28. IMT2 (Rabe). 15 mi NE of Goldendale, WA. Start 7/24/2013. Full Suppression. Timber, brush.  Cause under investigation. 26,699 acres (-94). 75% containment. Hwy 97 re-opened. Moderate fire behavior.  Level 1 evacuation. Values at risk include commercial timber, cultural resources, power line infrastructure,  and T&E species.

Moore Point. ICT3 (Schmidt). 35 mi NW of Chelan, WA. Start 7/28/2013. Point Zone Protection. Timber.  Cause lightning. 1,500 acres (+414). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Limited access. Lakeside cabins  threatened.

Local media updates Ellensburg  Goldendale   Wenatchee

Smoke Forecast

A record-breaking 1.10 inches of rain fell in Wenatchee yesterday and the radar indicates that some fell far enough south to hit the Colockum Tarps fire.  Rainfall in other areas ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to over three quarters of an inch. We will have to wait until some of the fire reports come in to judge how the fire behavior reacts to the rain. 

As for air quality, smoke dispersion looks good for today, Friday, with winds carrying the smoke rapidly eastward. However, there is a 24-hour period from midday Saturday through early afternoon Sunday when the winds will abate and smoke will likely accumulate near the fires.  If the rain has suppressed the fire activity sufficiently, we could see low smoke plume heights and high ground level smoke concentrations near the fires.  As the wind comes up Sunday evening that accumulated, smoke could drift through nearby communities and cause concentrations in the unhealthy for sensitive groups.

8/1/2013 8 am Air Quality Alert for Chelan County

Good in Wenatchee

Moderate in Leavenworth

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Chelan

Nearly everyone likes to spend time outdoors on warm sunny days, but poor air quality can harm people with heart and lung disease. The Air Quality Index for Leavenworth is measuring as “Moderate”.   Chelan is measuring as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups this morning. Conditions will vary throughout our two-county area during the day as the wildfire smoke moves with the prevailing winds.

During these conditions, individuals with pre-existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma and emphysema, the elderly, and children may be affected in the “moderate” air quality areas. 

In the area Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups around Chelan people in those categories should limit outdoor activity, remain indoors with windows and doors closed, avoid excessive exertion, and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke or other respiratory irritants.  

Air conditioning units should be set on “recycle” mode to reduce introduction of contaminated outdoor air.  People without air conditioning need to take precautions against heat stress and should consider temporarily relocating to an area with better air quality. 

Members of the general population may also begin to feel adverse affects from poor air quality and should consider following these same precautions.  Adverse symptoms may include dizziness, headache, difficulty breathing, coughing, excessive phlegm, and nausea. 

For specific medical advice please contact your physician.

8/01/2013 Wildfire update

Updated Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) chart

Fire facts from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center

Colockum Tarps WA-WFS-402. IMT2 (Nickey). 12 mi SE of Wenatchee, WA. Start 7/27,2013. Full Suppression. Grass, brush. Cause under investigation. 70,000 acres (+10,684). 25% containment. WA State Fire mobilization authorized. Additional level 3 evacuations added. Extreme fire behavior. Natural and cultural resources as well as wind farm infrastructures remain at risk.

Mile Marker 28 WA-YAA-000081. IMT2 (Rabe). 15 mi NE of Goldendale, WA. Start 7/24/2013. Full Suppression. Timber, brush. Cause under investigation . 26,793 acres (+4,324). 65% containment. Hwy 97 re-opened. Active fire behavior on north side of the fire. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk include commercial timber, cultural resources, power line infrastructure, and T&E species.

Moore Point WA-OWF-000366. ICT3 (Schmidt). 35 mi NW of Chelan, WA. Start 7/28/2013. Point Zone Protection. Timber. Cause lightning. 1,086 acres (+836). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Limited access. Lakeside cabins threatened.

Local media updates Ellensburg  Goldendale   Wenatchee

Smoke Forecast

Dry cold front passage last evening led to some modest reductions in smoke levels across much of eastern WA, although levels in many areas have since started creeping up. Some lightning strikes have been reported but we have not yet heard of new fires. There is a red flag warning for more thunderstorms/ lightning strikes/ new fires through late Thursday night, before wetter showers start in areas north of I-90. This will end the threat of new fire starts in the northern parts and perhaps help control some of the existing fires there. But when wet, fires tend to smolder for some time and produce smoke that is not very buoyant.

The risk of new fires remains south of I-90 through Friday. Moderate to strong winds accompanying these weather systems will likely aid smoke dispersion somewhat, but they are also likely to lead to erratic fire behavior.

Incoming weather will also drag some smoke from fires in southwest Oregon, over eastern WA. Impacts from Idahoan fires are not expected over the next two days.

In summary, compared to the past few days most areas in eastern WA can expect to smell a little less smoke today and tomorrow. Air quality should range between Good and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in most areas.

Satellite 1km visible image