wildfire

UPDATED: Arlington issues fire ban amid Fire Weather Watch for N. Va.

By ARLnow.com
Smoke from wildfires turns the setting sun red near the U.S. Air Force Memorial in September (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Update at 7:35 p.m. — Arlington County’s Chief Fire Marshal has issued a “fire ban” through midnight Sunday due to the wildfire risk, according to a social media post by the fire department.

Earlier: The wildfire threat is continuing this weekend.

A dangerous combination of gusty winds, dry vegetation and low humidity on Saturday means that brush fires could quickly spread. As a result, the National Weather Service just issued a Fire Weather Watch for Northern Virginia.

While brush fires are usually extinguished quickly in Arlington, elsewhere in Virginia fire crews have been dealing with a series of large wildfires. Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency last week due to ongoing wildfires, while the latest — the Matts Creek Fire near Lynchburg — is growing and expected to bring smoke to our region this afternoon.

More on the local wildfire threat, from the National Weather Service, below.

1125 AM EST Fri Nov 17 2023

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE POTENTIAL OF ENHANCED SPREAD OF WILDFIRES IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the potential of enhanced spread of wildfires, which is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday afternoon.

* WINDS…Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 27 percent.

* IMPACTS…The combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and strong gusty winds may result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires.

* FUEL MOISTURE…10 to 15 percent for 10 hour fuels.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions may occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

UPDATE: ‘Very unhealthy’ air outside Thursday morning

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Update at 9:30 a.m. — The air quality has worsened and entered the “Code Maroon” — or “hazardous” — category.

Update at 8:50 a.m. — Air quality in Arlington has reached well into the Code Purple “Very Unhealthy” category, with an AQI of 276. All locals should avoid spending time outside if possible or wear an N95 or similar mask.

Arlington Public Schools and the county parks department, meanwhile, have cancelled all outdoor activities Thursday.

“School will operate as usual today with some modifications,” APS said this morning. “All APS field trips scheduled for today to outdoor locations have been canceled. All APS outdoor activities, including outdoor afterschool activities, have been canceled. APS indoor activities will continue as planned.”

From DPR: ” Due to the air quality, all outdoor DPR and partner programs are canceled for today. We will continue to monitor the health advisory and will notify you of any future related cancellations.”

Air quality reading for Arlington as of 8 a.m. Thursday (via airnow.gov)

Earlier: Thursday will be another Code Red air quality alert day for Arlington and the D.C. area.

The good news, though, is that some relief from the wildfire smoke is in sight.

Authorities issued the Code Red alert just before 5 p.m. today, urging people to stay inside and avoid outdoor exercise. From the National Weather Service:

…AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY JUNE 8 2023…
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code RED Air Quality Alert Thursday for Northern Virginia. A Code Red Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region are unhealthy for the general population. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles visit the web site Virginia DEQ air quality web site at www.deq.virginia.gov.

Separately, NWS said in a Special Weather Statement that a front should “bring some reprieve to fine particle concentrations” on Friday.

…POOR AIR QUALITY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC THROUGH FRIDAY DUE TO CANADIAN WILDFIRES…

Due to Canadian wildfires, smoke is prevalent in the mid-Atlantic region, including the greater Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. Under northerly winds, smoke will continue to be pushed south over our area. The smoke is expected to be rather thick to start the day Thursday, but may start to decrease through the day. A front on Friday will bring some reprieve to fine particle concentrations.

Depending on your location, Air Quality will vary, with much of the area either Code Orange or Code Red – possibly through Friday. […]

Some areas may see Code Red, which means “unhealthy for the general population.” If you are under a Code Red Air Quality Alert, everyone should keep outdoor activities light and short.

For those people in sensitive groups, consider moving all activities indoors.

The effects of air pollution on people can be minimized by avoiding strenuous outdoor activity or exercise indoors. Go indoors if you have symptoms.

Earlier today, Arlington hit measured air quality levels even worse than the Code Red threshold, though it has since improved somewhat.

UPDATED: Local air quality reaches Code Red level as wildfire smoke thickens

By ARLnow.com
1/2

(Updated at noon) Air quality measurements have exceeded Code Red levels in the D.C. area, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

It’s no surprise to anyone who can see and smell the smoke outside. The thick haze has been wafting into the region from the north, amid severe wildfires in Canada.

The Council of Government says it expects tomorrow to be a Code Red day as well.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has issued a Code Red Air Quality Health Advisory for the metropolitan Washington region. Current air quality conditions have reached Code Red, unhealthy levels for everyone. In addition, tomorrow, June 8, is currently forecast to be a Code Red day.

The region has experienced 6 Code Orange days (unhealthy for sensitive groups) so far this year, and no Code Red days until today.

Smoke coming from fires in Quebec, Canada is contributing to the increased levels of fine particle pollution.

COG advises the following health precautions:

  • Everyone may experience health effects and should limit outdoor activity.
  • Members of sensitive groups like individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis may experience more serious health effects.

Residents can check current air quality conditions and the forecast on COG’s website or by downloading a free air quality app from COG’s Clean Air Partners program.

Air quality levels (via Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)

Among other impacts, at least one Arlington elementary school postponed a planned outdoor field day due to the unhealthy air. And, just before noon, Arlington Dept. of Parks and Recreation cancelled all outdoor programs.

It’s not only people who are being urged to stay inside. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is reminding residents to keep their pets inside as well.

As of 11 a.m., as pointed out by a reader on social media, the air quality level in Arlington has reached 204 AQI, or the purple “Very Unhealthy” category above Code Red.

“Everyone may experience more serious health effects and should avoid outdoor activities,” the MWCOG air quality table says about the level.

The Arlington County Fire Department, meanwhile, has responded to several calls this morning for people — including an Arlington Public Schools student — experiencing trouble breathing, according to scanner traffic.

Air quality reading for Arlington as of 11 a.m. Wednesday (via airnow.gov)