Air Quality Summary Report – Wildfires in Western NC Tuesday, Nov 15 2016

Daniel Stratton USFS Monitoring:  We are currently monitoring smoke in many locations in Western NC: Robbinsville, Andrews, Franklin, Asheville and Bryson City. Several fires are currently burning in the Western NC and North Georgia area and smoke levels recorded by these instruments may not be from a single fire incident. Yesterday: Both Robbinsville and Andrews saw smoke levels range from the USG (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) to Moderate (Mod) range for the past 12 hrs. Asheville, Franklin and Bryson City had levels in the Moderate range most of the yesterday and throughout the evening. Smoke continued to cross HWY 64 near Shooting Creek last night. Tuesday: Currently this morning, levels of smoke in Robbinsville, Andrews, Franklin and Bryson City are in the Moderate AQI level (Yellow) as of 0900. These concentration levels may increase in the area today. Winds are expected to head SE tonight with smoke directed toward the Franklin, Highlands, and possibly the Hendersonville areas. Continue to expect smoke impacts along HWY 64 near Shooting Creek, and near the Hellibase located near Brasstown road off HWY 64. The State of NC has issued both a code Red (Unhealthy) and a code Purple (Very Unhealthy) for certain counties in Western NC. Expect smoke to cross highways and local roads. Smoke will travel into low areas and drainages in the evenings. Wednesday: With the existing weather pattern and fire behavior, smoke impacts in the communities of Robbinsville, Andrews, Franklin, Hendersonville and Asheville could be in the Moderate range for Wednesday and could move to the USG level into the evening through Thursday morning.
Site	AQI Nov 15th Tuesday			AQI Nov 16th Wednesday	Comments
Robbinsville	USG			USG	Moderate smoke will be present in these areas today
Andrews	USG			USG	and will increase in the early evening into the USG
Franklin	USG			USG	levels through Wednesday morning. The same smoke
Asheville	USG			USG	pattern is expected to continue through Thursday.
Bryson City	USG			USG	Because of proximity to the fire, HWY 64 and the
Hendersonville	USG			USG	Shooting Creek will continue to see smoke impacts
Waynesville	USG			USG	in that area from Franklin to Murphy.
For more information about North Carolina air quality updates: https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenter For more information about National Forests in North Carolina: https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc/
Disclaimer: Conditions may change quickly; these predictions are based on anticipated weather and fire activity. AQI estimates for sites do not represent a full 24 hour time period but, rather, reflect a period of time within the day where smoke impacts would be greatest.
Air Quality Index (AQI) Levels of Health Concern			What the Index means for your health with regards to particulates from smoke
Good			None
Moderate (Mod)			Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)			Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
Unhealthy			Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
Very Unhealthy			Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Hazardous			Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.