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Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert - Mayor declares state of emergency
Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert - Mayor declares state of emergency
Smoke from N.O. East marsh fire blankets parts of city
wwltv.com
Posted on August 28, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Updated today at 12:17 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- A marsh fire near Michoud in New Orleans East is continuing to burn and sending smoke throughout the New Orleans metro area. Smoke has been reported as far as the West Bank.
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1111 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2011
LAZ040-058>064-067>070-282215-
ST. TAMMANY-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-
UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-
LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-
LOWER ST. BERNARD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SLIDELL...MANDEVILLE...COVINGTON...
LACOMBE...LAPLACE...RESERVE...THIBODAUX...RACELAND ...LAROSE...
DESTREHAN...NORCO...METAIRIE...KENNER...NEW ORLEANS...
BELLE CHASSE...CHALMETTE...VIOLET...GALLIANO...CUT OFF...
GOLDEN MEADOW...PORT SULPHUR...EMPIRE...YSCLOSKEY
1111 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2011
...WILDFIRE IN NEW ORLEANS EAST PRODUCING IRRITABLE SMOKE...
A WILDFIRE BURNING MARSH GRASSES IN NEW ORLEANS EAST NEAR
INTERSTATE 10 AND INTERSTATE 510. NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL
CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT A PLUME OF SMOKE OVER THE GREATER NEW
ORLEANS AREA AND AREAS TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF THE METRO
AREA.
THE SMOKE MAY BE IRRITABLE TO PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY AILMENTS. TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO THE SMOKE.THEDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WAS ASSESSING THE AIR QUALITY IN THE AREA. AN AIR QUALITY ALERT MAY BE ISSUED IF MEASUREMENTS MEET CRITERIA.
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert
N.O. East marsh fire brings smell, ash, sets off fire alarms on west bank
wwltv.com
Posted on August 28, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Updated today at 5:29 AM
<?xml:namespace prefix = fb /><fb:like class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment fb_iframe_widget" width="130" layout="button_count" show_faces="false" action="recommend"></fb:like> Monica Hernandez / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS- Smoke from a burning marsh fire in New Orleans East
continued to make its way across the metro area Sunday. It prompted the National Weather Service to warn those with breathing conditions to stay indoors.
Pieces of ash covered a number of cars miles away in Algiers. Brian Perry woke up to find his truck cloaked in soot.
"It was crazy there was actually kind of big pieces of ash," said Perry. "It seems like it was pretty far away so I was kind of surprised."
The huge plume of smoke can be seen for miles, and the effects can be felt through much of the metro area.
"The smoke was actually setting off some alarms," said Chris Roberts, Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-Large. "The fire department had to respond to that."
An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes until 7PM. Smoke burning from the marsh fire in New Orleans East is being pushed south due to northerly winds...
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert
Air Quality Alert
UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-
UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...THIBODAUX...RACELAND...LAROSE...
DESTREHAN...NORCO...METAIRIE...KENNER...NEW ORLEANS...BELLE CHASSE...
CHALMETTE...VIOLET...PORT SULPHUR...EMPIRE...YSCLOSKEY
423 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2011
...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS FORECASTING A
OZONE ACTION DAY FOR ORLEANS...JEFFERSON...ST JOHN THE BAPTIST...ST.
CHARLES...ST BERNARD...ST TAMMANY...AND PLAQUEMINES PARISHES...IN
EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.
A WILD MARSH FIRE IN NEW ORLEANS EAST IS PRODUCING CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNT OF SMOKE NEAR I-10 AND I-510. THIS IS CAUSING INCREASING LEVELS
OF LARGE PARTICULATE MATTER.
THE AIR QUALITY INDEX INDICATES THAT OZONE WILL BE AT THE ORANGE
LEVEL...WHICH IS UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. INCREASING OZONE
LEVELS MAY CAUSE UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY DURING AFTERNOON HOURS.
ACTIVE CHILDREN AND ADULTS...THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY
DISEASES SUCH AS ASTHMA...SHOULD AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERTION.
PLEASE TAKE WHATEVER VOLUNTARY STEPS YOU CAN TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OZONE FORMATION. DRIVE LESS AND MAKE SURE YOUR
AUTOMOBILE IS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. MAKE SURE YOUR GAS CAP IS
TIGHT. WAIT UNTIL AFTER 6 PM TO REFUEL YOUR VEHICLE AND USE GAS
POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT AIR QUALITY
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT OZONE FORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT
THE D E Q WEBSITE WWW.DEQ.LOUISIANA.GOV OR BY CALLING
2 2 5 2 1 9 3 4 8 9 ON WEEKDAYS.
Billowing smoke from a stubborn marsh fire in wetlands in eastern New Orleans has prompted health warnings from medical experts and school officials, as well as air quality alerts from the state Department of Environmental Quality. Residents as far west as Kenner and St. Charles Parish have complained about health effects of the smoke, even in homes with windows and doors closed, ranging from shortness of breath to itchy eyes and upset stomachs.
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert
City Of New Orleans
8/29/2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
<!-- text-box -->CITY PROVIDES UPDATE ON MARSH FIRE STATUS AND PRECAUTIONS
NEW ORLEANS, LA-- At this time, a marsh fire is burning in New Orleans East, located approximately 1500 ? 2000 yards north of Chef Menteur Highway and west of Bayou Sauvage. The fire is feeding off of brush, including chinaberry and willow trees, along with compacted layers of peat moss under the marsh brush.
It is believed that the fire started after a lightning storm on the evening of Wednesday, August 24. Since Thursday, August 25, 2011, the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) has been monitoring the fire. The Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the City's Mosquito & Termite Control Board pilots have conducted aerial reconnaissance.
According to LDAF and NOFD, the fire is 100% contained because the area is surrounded by water on all four sides. It is estimated that approximately 1300 acres have burned to date, and that there are 1,000 acres remaining in this water-locked area. LDAF will conduct a more detailed GIS reconnaissance flight in the morning to determine the more exact area impacted and estimates for when the fire may burn itself out.
The fire is burning in an area that is completely inaccessible to NOFD equipment; however, the City is coordinating with federal, state, and regional agencies to determine what assets can be mobilized to fight this fire effectively.
The fire is in an extremely isolated area and poses no threat to citizens or property. Any inconvenience or discomfort suffered from smoke is determined solely by which direction the wind blows.
According to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the smoke is causing increased levels of particulate matter in the atmosphere. The Air Quality Index indicates that particulate matter is at the orange level today, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. As such, DEQ has issued an air quality action day for particulate matter for Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany. DEQ will monitor air quality every hour on the hour and publishes data on their website-- www.deq.louisiana.gov. A DEQ mobile testing unit has been dispatched to Engine 36 in New Orleans East to complement testing at City Park, Kenner and Chalmette.
The National Weather Service predicts conditions for smoke to settle near the surface overnight, which could reduce visibility in impacted areas. The City advises motorists to exercise caution while driving during this time. The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), the State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department are coordinating their efforts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and DEQ:
Smoke may cause you to cough. It can cause shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. It also can sting your eyes, nose, or throat.
These problems can begin a very short time after you breathe the smoke. You may have little warning, especially if you have lung or heart disease. Infants, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic diseases such as asthma are at greater risk from smoke.
You can take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:
Leave the area if you are at greater risk from breathing smoke.
While driving, be sure to set your vehicle's AC controls to re-circulate.
Be sure to use clean filters in your home's central AC. This will aid in cleaner air inside.
If you have window units, be sure to set your settings to re-circulate. If this function is not available, be aware you could draw in air quality similar to that on the outside of your home.
Avoid activities that put extra demands on your lungs and heart. These include exercising or physical chores, both outdoors and indoors.
In general, individuals with asthma, allergies, and other lung conditions should avoid prolonged exposure to the smell and continue to follow their treatment plans as determined by their health care providers.
If you become symptomatic, seek medical advice from your health care provider.
<!-- address-box -->CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
Mayor?s Press Office
1300 Perdido Street,
Suite 2E04
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70112.
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>ORLEANS FIRE </TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle></TD><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>
TODAY AND TONIGHT
A WILDFIRE IN NEW ORLEANS EAST WILL PRODUCE SMOKE THAT MAY BE
IRRITABLE TO PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY AILMENTS IN THE GREATER NEW
ORLEANS AREA. THE SMOKE WILL LIKELY BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED
OVERNIGHT AS WINDS LESSEN. AN OZONE ACTION DAY IS IN EFFECT FOR
THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AREA.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
A WILDFIRE IN NEW ORLEANS EAST WILL PRODUCE SMOKE THAT MAY BE
IRRITABLE TO PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY AILMENTS IN THE GREATER NEW
ORLEANS AREA.
Acrid smoke from a stubborn marsh fire that has burned at least 2,300 acres of swampy ground in eastern New Orleans -- an area two and a half times the size of City Park -- blanketed downtown New Orleans this morning, prompting a renewal of warnings from health professionals and restrictions on local school students' outdoor activities.The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality renewed an Air Quality Alert today for the area south and southwest of Lake Pontchartrain because of the high levels of particulate matter in the smoke.
...
At City Park, a Department of Environmental Quality monitor registered 170.2 micrograms per cubic meter of 2.5 microgram or smaller particulates at 11 a.m., 199.1 micrograms per cubic meter at noon, and 135.3 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 p.m. The federal standard is an average over 8 hours of no more than 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
The threat of the smoke to people with pre-existing heart and lung disease is especially acute, said Dr. James Diaz, director of the environmental and occupational health sciences program at the Louisiana State University School of Public Health, in an interview Monday.
"It's very irritating to the airways and mucous membranes of the eye and nose, and the upper respiratory tract," Diaz said. "It can cause bronchospasms and asthma attacks."
He said those exercising outdoors, particularly joggers and swimmers are more at risk because the intense activity increases the rate of breathing, and inhalation of the tiny particles.
"The best thing to do is shelter indoors in any sort of area with good air filters," he said.
At West Jefferson Medical Center, emergency personnel treated two non-critical patients with respiratory complaints attributed to the smoke, one on Monday and another today. By noon today, Tulane Medical Center reported 25 patients had complained of effects from the smoke.
Re: Smoke from New Orleans East marsh fire blankets parts of city - Air quality alert - Mayor declares state of emergency
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 summary="Design Table" cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD id=dnn_ctr2904_Display_HtmlHolder class=Normal>This is an air quality alert. This morning, Aug. 31, DEQ air quality monitors in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas show particulate matter to be at a level that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive people, children and the elderly should limit prolonged activity at this level, which is orange on the Air Quality Index. Because a marsh fire continues to burn in the Bayou Sauvage area of eastern New Orleans, particulate matter levels in southeast Louisiana could fluctuate between moderate (yellow on the AQI), and unhealthy (red on the AQI).
Particulate matter consists of very small, fine particles that in the air can cause or aggravate a number of health problems. People with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions to avoid being outside for long periods of time. Other individuals should avoid exertion and prolonged activity outdoors when smoke is present. Seek medical care if you experience difficulty breathing or health-related issues.
The LDEQ's mission is to provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety and welfare while considering sound policies regarding employment and economic development.
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