2012 and 2013 Exceptional Events – Klamath Falls 

Agency Notification of Intent to Submit a Package 

The Department of Environmental Quality intends to submit an exception events package for flagged 

wildfire data in 2012 and 2013 for the Klamath Falls area. In 2012, DEQ submitted a Klamath Falls 

attainment plan that demonstrated Klamath Falls will meet the standard by the end of 2014. 

There were several significant events in Southern Oregon during 2012 and 2013 that impacted Klamath 

Falls resulting in five specific days that DEQ considers exceptional events. These events, if classified as 

exceptional by EPA, could show that Klamath Falls can meet the PM2.5 standard in 2014 as well as 2015. 

This notification will show “regulatory significance” of these data and provide preliminary evidence that 

each day of the events were likely influenced heavily by wildfire smoke. 

Exceptional Event Days 

Five days are considered wildfire smoke filled days in Klamath Falls. These days include smoke from 

several events in California and in Oregon. (See appendix A and B) DEQ is prepared to write a complete 

report to address each of these days and considers the summer wildfire episodes as the only source of 

smoke in the area that caused the exceedance or near exceedance. By removing each of these days, the 

98th percentile for each year will be reduced so that Klamath Falls has an opportunity to meet the 

standard by the end of 2014 as well as 2015. Table 1 identifies the exceptional events that should be 

considered and their concentrations. 

Table 1 – Wildfire Dates and Events 

Year of Event Date μg/m3 Wildfire Event

2013 7/30/2013 79.8 Douglas Complex – OR; Others in Rogue Valley - OR

8/5/2013 74.8 Douglas Complex – OR; Others in Rogue Valley - OR

2012 8/28/2012 43.2 Fort Complex - CA; Happy Camp – CA; Barry Point - OR

8/31/2012 34.1 Fort Complex - CA; Happy Camp – CA; Barry Point - OR

8/25/2012 28.1 Fort Complex - CA; Happy Camp – CA; Barry Point - OR

The highest concentrations recorded for both years are listed below and the resulting 98th percentile are 

identified in Table 2. 

Table 2 

Date μg/m3 Sample Ranking Description

7/30/2013 79.8 114 Wildfire Event

8/5/2013 74.8 113 Wildfire Event

1/16/2013 50.1 112 98 percentile with Wildfires

1/13/2013 46.5 111

12/9/2013 46.2 110 98 percentile without Wildfires

8/28/2012 43.2 115 Wildfire Event

1/10/2012 39 114

8/31/2012 34.1 113 Wildfire Event – 98%ile with wf
1/4/2012 30.5 112

8/25/2012 28.1 111 Wildfire Event

1/13/2012 25.9 110 98 percentile without Wildfires

The Data: 

In reviewing the data, DEQ determined that it would be very difficult to meet the 24-hour PM2.5 

standard should wildfire data not be considered exceptional. The 98th percentile for the 2014 data 

would need to be 22.2 μg/m3 or less; that would be very difficult for Klamath Falls to meet. Klamath 

Falls should not be penalized for potentially violating the standard, when it is clear that the wildfire data 

are causing the area to exceed. However, if the wildfire data was excluded, Klamath Falls would only 

need to meet 34.3 μg/m3 to meet the standard; a doable expectation. With the data being excluded, 

Klamath Falls has a chance of meeting the standard and we do think these events have regulatory 

significance because they affect whether Klamath will meet the standard. Table 3 shows the data sets 

with wildfires included and with them excluded. 

Table 3 – 98th Percentile – Three Year Average – With and Without Wildfire Day Data 

Wildfires included Wildfires excluded 

2014 22.2 needed 2014 34.3 needed 

2013 50.1 2013 46.2

2012 34.1 2012 25.9

Average 35 Average 35

DEQ has reviewed the first two months of 2014 for Klamath Falls. Winter (1st and 4th quarters) are 

typically the quarters that cause exceedances of the PM2.5 standard due to wood stove use. January 

and February provide a good clue as to the likelihood of Klamath Falls meeting the standard for the year. 

The following data are the highest three days giving Klamath Falls a good opportunity to meet the same

result in November and December of 2014. The highest concentration seen in the first two months of 

2014 was 30.9 μg/m3 as shown in Table 4 below: 

Table 4 – January and February 2014 – Highest 24-hour Concentrations 

Date Concentration Units

Jan. 17, 2014 30.9 μg/m3

Jan. 20, 2014 29.6 μg/m3

Jan. 2, 2014 27.8 μg/m3

Conclusion: 

Klamath Falls can meet the 2014 demonstration identified in the attainment plan if the wildfire smoke 

events are removed data and the community continues to maintain their ambient emissions and 

concentrations at relatively low levels this coming winter season. DEQ intends to prepare an 

exceptional event package detailing the six elements to justify EPA excluding these event-related 
concentrations from regulatory determinations. Should Klamath Falls continue to have clean data the 

remainder of 2014, there would be no violation of the ambient air quality 24-hour PM2.5 standard but 

for these events identified. 

 
Appendix A 

2013 Wildfire activity as detailed in Herald and News Article (Klamath Falls newspaper) 

BAD AIR 

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warning in Basin

• Story

PreviousNext

H&N photos by Dave Martinez 

Air quality 

Theses images taken near the Klamath Union “K” toward Lake Ewauna show the difference in air quality Monday, left, and 

June 16. 

Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 11:45 pm 

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warning in BasinBy ANDREW 

CREASEY H&N Staff Reporter 

Klamath County health officials are advising residents to limit 

outdoor activity as the air quality in the Basin continues to deteriorate due to wildfire smoke pouring into the area. 

The full extent of the air quality in the Basin is not known, as the air quality monitoring station at Peterson Elementary School has been giving 

erroneous readings. But Jim Carey, Klamath County air quality inspector, doesn’t need a machine to tell him the air quality is poor. 
 “If you can see and smell smoke, then you’re definitely breathing it in,” Carey said. “I was surprised to get the data we got. We should be in 

the red (unhealthy for all groups), but we’ve been in the green or moderate levels.” 

Department of Environmental Quality technicians were working on Tuesday to repair the monitoring station. 

Because of the poor air quality, which is the result of smoke emanating from the Douglas Complex wildfires in southwestern Oregon, officials 

are advising residents to stay indoors and avoid exerting themselves outside. 

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service expect the smoke to continue to enter into the Basin as long as the Douglas fire continues to 

burn. 

The fire has grown to 21,400 acres and continues to exhibit extreme fire behavior. Steep slopes, dry fuels and low humidity have hampered 

fire suppression efforts — the blaze is 5 percent contained. 

The Oregon Department of Forestry smoke dispersion forecast does anticipate some relief later in the week, when a marine push will 

increase winds from the northwest. The winds will push into the area Thursday and Friday, improving smoke dispersion and offering a 

reprieve from the poor air quality. 

The poor air quality will likely not affect the county’s efforts to come into attainment with federal Clean Air Act standards, said Larry Calkins, 

DEQ air quality specialist. 

Due to a record string of cold temperatures that trapped smoky air in the Basin earlier this year, the county has already exceeded its allotted 

amount of days over federals limits of the pollutant PM 2.5. 

Calkins said DEQ will flag the days the area exceeds air quality standards and submit to the Environmental Protection Agency a request to 

put the days on the exceptional event list — exempting them from the air quality record. 

Klamath County Commissioner Dennis Linthicum, an ardent critic of air quality policies, said the smoky air in the Basin and the growing 

Douglas Complex wildfires are a product of the state’s poorly managed public lands. 

“Overall in Oregon the federal forests are not managed well and we’ll see that, and we’ll continue to see that, with the nature and ferocity of 

the fires that we see,” Linthicum said during the weekly commissioners meeting. 

“The forest health is in poor shape,” Linthicum continued. “We spend more money in suppression costs for fighting wildfires than we do in 

actually managing the forest, thinning the forests and providing return on the investment by creating harvestable and merchantable timber.” 

acreasey@heraldandnews.com; @HN_Creasey 

© 2014 Herald and News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

 
Appendix B 

2012 Wildfire activity as detailed in both DEQ News Releases (Aug 15 and 27) 

News Release 

For release: Aug. 15, 2012 

Contacts: 

Larry Calkins, Pendleton, 541-278-4612 

Frank Messina, Air Quality, Bend, 541-633-2019 

Wildfires Send Smoke into Klamath, Lake Counties 

Smoke from wildfires in southern Oregon and northern Nevada led to increased air pollution 

into Lakeview and Klamath Falls, along with hazy conditions in Vale and Ontario. More hot 

weather and potential lightning and thunderstorms expected in these communities over the 

weekend. 

Fires burning along Oregon’s southern border sent smoke in Klamath Falls and Lakeview, 

resulting in decreased air quality earlier this week. With the National Weather Service predicting 

smoky conditions and hot weather could continue or worsen in these communities in the coming 

days. Thunderstorms and possible lightning strikes could also develop. DEQ urges people living 

in these areas to be aware of local air quality and to take precautions to reduce exposure to 

wildfire smoke. 

Lakeview

Smoke from the Barry Point fire led to pollution levels that were unhealthy for sensitive 

groups — such as children, the elderly and those with asthma or other respiratory conditions 

— in Lakeview on Sunday. The Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team reports that 

weather conditions are likely to send smoke back into the community in the coming days, 

which could lead to unhealthy air quality. 

Klamath Falls 

Smoke from the several fires burning in the southern portion of the state and California 

leading to moderate air pollution in Klamath Falls earlier in the week. The Fort Complex 

near Happy Camp, CA and the Barry Point fire near Lakeview are the likely contributors to 

smoke in the Klamath Basin according to Oregon Department of Forestry. Weather 

conditions are expected to remain as similar smoke levels in the coming days. 

Vale and Ontario 
Smoke from fires in the Ten Mile Complex and the Holloway fires led to visibly hazy 

conditions for the past several days in Vale and Ontario. Weather conditions are expected to 

remain at similar smoke levels in the coming days. 

Under certain weather conditions smoke from fires can drift into communities and quickly 

cause unhealthy air quality. Should smoke events occur, DEQ and health officials urge local 

residents to take the following precautions to avoid breathing problems or other symptoms from 

smoke: 

• Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest 

concentrations. 

• Avoid smoke either by leaving the area or protecting yourself by staying indoors, closing 

all windows and doors and using a filter in your. heating/cooling system that removes 

very fine particulate matter 

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions. 

• People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing 

management plans or contact their healthcare providers. 

Remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including 

wind direction. People can conduct a visual assessment of smoke levels to quickly get a sense of 

air quality levels and take precautions. If people have additional concerns, they should contact 

the nearest regional or local public health agency for the latest in health conditions from smoke. 

For more information about local conditions: 

• Visit DEQ’s wildfire information page for more information regarding active fires and air 

quality, along with tools to help people assess smoke levels in their area.

• Tune to local radio and TV stations and the Weather Channel in affected areas that may 

include the very latest fire information in news programming and weather reports. 

• Obtain a dedicated NOAA Weather Radio receiver, which will alert you 24 hours a day 

to hazards in your area. 

News Release 

For release: Aug. 27, 2012 

Contacts: 

Larry Calkins, Air Quality Program, Pendleton, 541-278-4612 

Brian Mannion, Communications and Outreach Bend 541-633-2008 

William Knight, Air Quality, Communications and Outreach, 503-229-5680 

Wildfires Cause Unhealthy Air Quality in Central and Southern Oregon
Smoke from wildfires in Oregon and California sent smoke into communities including Bend, 

Klamath Falls and Lakeview.

Fires in central and southern Oregon and northern California sent smoke into communities 

during the past several days. Klamath Falls saw unhealthy air quality on Sunday and very 

unhealthy air quality on Monday, while air quality in Bend was unhealthy Sunday morning and 

unhealthy for sensitive groups at other times Sunday and Monday. 

DEQ urges people living in areas affected by smoke to be aware local air quality at all times 

and to take precautions to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. 

Below is a brief summary of conditions in communities hit by smoke in central and southern 

Oregon. 

Klamath Falls 

The Fort Complex fire in the Klamath National Forest and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National 

Forest along the California-Oregon border sent smoke into Klamath Falls over the weekend and 

Monday. Hourly smoke concentrations were unhealthy for sensitive groups on Saturday, 

reaching levels unhealthy for everyone at times Sunday and very unhealthy levels around midday 

Monday. The National Weather Service expects conditions to improve by midweek with the 

arrival of cooler weather and favorable winds. 

For the most up to date health information regarding the Klamath Falls, call Molly Brophy 

Jespersen at the Klamath County Health Department: 541-882-8846. 

Lakeview 
The Fort Complex fire sent smoke into Lakeview over the weekend and Monday. Hourly smoke 

concentrations were unhealthy for several hours Saturday, and reached moderate on Monday 

morning. The National Weather Service expects conditions to improve by midweek with the 

arrival of cooler weather and favorable winds. 

Bend 

Shifting winds sent smoke from several fires into Bend over the weekend and on Monday. On 

Sunday morning, winds carried smoke into Bend from the Waterfalls 2 fire near Warm Springs, 

causing hourly smoke concentrations to spike to unhealthy levels around 9 a.m. Sunday. Sunday 

afternoon, winds shifted, bring smoke from fires in Southern Oregon and Northern California 

including Barry Point fire. Hourly levels were unhealthy for sensitive groups Monday morning. 

The National Weather Service expects conditions to improve by midweek with the arrival of 

cooler weather and favorable winds. 
Burns, Sisters and Madras 

DEQ air quality monitors in Burns, Sisters and Madras detected moderate smoke levels over the 

weekend and Monday. 

Rogue Valley 

Conditions were relatively clear over the weekend. However, areas of smoke are expected this 

afternoon and may continue into Wednesday. 

Under certain weather conditions smoke from fires can drift into communities and quickly 

cause unhealthy air quality. Should smoke events occur, DEQ and health officials urge local 

residents to take the following precautions to avoid breathing problems or other symptoms from 

smoke: 

•Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest 

concentrations. 

• Avoid smoke either by leaving the area or protecting yourself by staying indoors, closing 

all windows and doors and using a filter in your. heating/cooling system that removes 

very fine particulate matter 

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions. 
• People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing 

management plans or contact their healthcare providers. 

Remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including 

wind direction. People can conduct a visual assessment of smoke levels to quickly get a sense of 

air quality levels and take precautions. If people have additional concerns, they should contact 

the nearest regional or local public health agency for the latest in health conditions from smoke. 

For more information about local conditions: 

• Visit DEQ’s wildfire information page for more information regarding active fires and air 

quality, along with tools to help people assess smoke levels in their area.

•Tune to local radio and TV stations and the Weather Channel in affected areas that may 

include the very latest fire information in news programming and weather reports. 

• Obtain a dedicated NOAA Weather Radio receiver, which will alert you 24 hours a day to 

hazards in your area. 

### 

 
2012 Wildfire activity as detailed in Herald and News Article (Klamath Falls newspaper) 

Air quality listed as unhealthy for all groups 

By ANDREWCREASEYH&N Staff Reporter | Posted: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 12:00 am 

Air quality has become so poor in Klamath County it is being rated unhealthy for all groups, 

according to air quality data collected by the Department of Environmental Quality. Previously, 

the 24-hour average of several air quality pollutants was listed dangerous for only sensitive 

groups, such as the asthmatic and those with heavy allergies, but with new measurements 

arriving from 1 p.m. readings Monday, it was updated to unhealthy for everyone. 

“When you get up into these levels of smoke, the things that people need to do is avoid spending 

time outside and avoid strenuous activity,” said BrianMannion, a public information officer with 

DEQ. “It’s best to stay inside and close the windows.” Mannion also stressed that people with 

respiratory or heart problems should talk to their medical providers if they have any concerns. 

The smoke is emanating from several fires in Northern California and the Barry Point fire in 

southeast Oregon, due to winds from the south and southwest. And with no rain in the forecast 

and relatively little shift predicted in the wind pattern, the smoke could stick around, said Megan 

Woodhead, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Medford. “I would say after 

Thursday the wind could shift around and becomes more westerly,” Woodhead said. “But even 

then it’s possible that it could turn around and blow south again by the weekend, so the 

break could be very short lived.” 

The air quality index, a 24-hour average of several pollutants, including PM 2.5 and PM 10, had 

the air quality in Klamath County at 152 Monday afternoon. At a rating of 151, the air quality 

becomes unhealthy for all. 

At 1 p.m., the hourly measurement of micrograms per cubic meter of PM 2.5 was 131.8. Air with 

levels above 93 to 120 micrograms per cubic meter is considered unhealthy, Mannion said. 

acreasey@heraldandnews.com