October 3, 2020 | 10:40 a.m. PDT
The first two maps are for air quality, from AirNow.gov. The first was current at 10 a.m. PDT October 3. The second is the forecast for Sunday, October 4.
![Air Quality, 10 a.m. PDT Oct. 3, 2020 AirNow](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Air-Quality-10-a.m.-PDT-Oct.-3-2020-AirNow.jpg)
![Air Quality Forecast, October 4, 2020 AirNow](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Air-Quality-Forecast-October-4-2020-AirNow.jpg)
The map below is the forecast for near surface wildfire smoke at noon PDT, Saturday October 3, 2020. The one after that is the forecast for 1 a.m. PDT Oct. 4, 2020. It is interesting that the air quality maps (above) do not detect or predict a serious air quality issue in Colorado around the Mullen Fire.
![Smoke Forecast for noon PDT Oct. 3, 2020 AirNow](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Smoke-Forecast-noon-PDT-Oct.-3-2020-AirNow.jpg)
![Smoke Forecast, 1 a.m. PDT Oct. 4, 2020 NOAA](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Smoke-Forecast-1-a.m.-PDT-Oct.-4-2020-NOAA.jpg)
I was awakened by heavy helicopter traffic in my home by the Benton Air Park in Tedding at 3:45 AM. I am not sure what it is but the Zog fire is playing on my mind and I am unable to locate a source of information on it.
I’m not sure why (AirNow’s monitoring station layout?) but often there seems to be a discrepancy between AirNow and my experienced amount of wildfire smoke at ground level in the area. It’s very confusing.