Dismal Swamp Fire Smoke Returns

By WYDaily Staff Sunday, August 21, 2011

It's back.

Smoke from the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge fire is making an impact on air quality today in the Historic Triangle, with reported conditions unhealthy for older adults, young children and anyone with respiratory conditions. These conditions are expected to continue through Monday on the Peninsula.

Meteorologist Kristen Stumpf of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality said residents can expect the following conditions today and tomorrow:

AUGUST 21
Hampton Roads
Color Code: Orange - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality
Primary Pollutant: Particle pollution

Richmond
Color Code: Yellow - Moderate air quality
Primary Pollutant: Ozone

Roanoke
Color Code: Green - Good air quality
Primary Pollutant: Ozone

Winchester
Color Code: Yellow - Moderate air quality
Primary Pollutant: Particle pollution

AUGUST 22
Hampton Roads
Color Code: Orange - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality
Primary Pollutant: Particle pollution

Richmond
Color Code: Yellow - Moderate air quality
Primary Pollutant: Ozone

Roanoke
Color Code: Green - Good air quality
Primary Pollutant: Ozone

Winchester
Color Code: Green - Good air quality
Primary Pollutant: Ozone

The fire began August 4, when lightning struck an area of the wildlife refuge that had been burned in the 2008 swamp fire. Grass and brush had begun to grow over the burn scar, but this year's drought dried out those new plants and soil. Scientists say the burning soil - marsh peat - is the source of most of the smoke and particulate. More than 6000 acres have burned in the refuge, which is near the North Carolina border, producing smoke and haze that's affected communities more than 400 miles away.

General smoke information guidelines are provided below:

Health Risks Information
Code Orange: Active children and adults, and people with heart or lung disease (including asthma) should limit or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities.

Code Red: Active children and adults should limit or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities. People unusually sensitive to air pollution, especially those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Code Purple: Active children and adults should avoid prolonged strenuous outdoor activities. People unusually sensitive to air pollution, especially those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), and older adults should avoid all outdoor strenuous activities.

High air pollution levels can impair breathing, cause lung damage, coughing and eye irritation and put extra strain on the heart. Air pollution also can aggravate asthma, bronchitis or emphysema.

SMOKE INFORMATION:
Here are some general guidelines for citizens to use in assessing local air quality conditions whenever there is wildfire smoke present:

• If you can smell smoke with no visibility impairment, air quality levels are probably in the Code Orange range, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. At Code Orange levels, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities. People who are active outdoors also should take it easier to limit their exposure to particle pollution.

• If you can smell smoke with minor visibility impairment (1 to 3 miles), air quality levels are probably in the Code Red range, or generally Unhealthy. At Code Red levels, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities; everyone else should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.

• If you can smell smoke with significant visibility impairment (less than 1 mile), air quality levels are probably in the Code Purple range, or Very Unhealthy. At Code Purple levels, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid all outdoor strenuous activities; everyone else should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.