Hot Weather and Fireworks are a Lethal Combination for Wildfires
Extremely hot weather and the illegal use of fireworks could be a lethal combination for wildfires in Oregon and California this 4th July weekend. Sizzling temperatures reaching 111 degrees in Medford, Oregon, and 116 degrees in Redding, California, are predicted for Friday and Saturday by the National Weather Service (NWS).
The NWS warns that the risk is high of heat-related illnesses and advises people to stay hydrated and to avoid venturing outdoors during the hottest times of day.
Red Flag Warning for Sacramento Valley
Wednesday sees a red flag warning in the Sacramento Valley, including Redding. A weather combination of heat, high winds and low humidity is a heady cocktail for the rapid spread of wildfires. Firefighters will be working extra shifts to safeguard the region.
Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple says Deschutes County has already been affected by the Darlene 3 Fire this year. The fire that started on June 25 near La Pine on the eastern side of Darlene Way triggered evacuation alerts for more than 1,000 homes and scorched 3,889 acres of land.
Ruiz-Temple says there will be an increased risk of fire for the 4th of July holiday because of the hot temperatures forecast and appeals to Oregonians to act responsibly to keep the state safe for an enjoyable, fire-free holiday.
Meanwhile, the Cal Fire Shasta-Trinity Unit’s public information officer, Jas Shaw, has confirmed that there will be sufficient staff on hand to cope with any wildfire outbreaks, but reminds that the use of fireworks without a permit is banned in Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou counties. He says despite the ban, people nevertheless import fireworks from out-of-state and raise the risk of wildfire outbreaks.
Shaw recommends that residents sign up for local emergency alerts.
Thousands of Pacific Gas and Electric Customers Face Shutdowns
In a move to prevent equipment from sparking wildfires, Pacific Gas and Electric announced the possible shutdown of power that could affect 12,000 customers. Trees and debris ignited in wildfires can cause damage to power lines and equipment, resulting in unplanned outages.
Areas on the shutdown map is most of the Sacramento Valley – 8,888 customers in Shasta County, 1,855 in Tehama County, as well as pockets of customers in Yolo, Solano, Napa. Lake, Glenn, and Calusa counties.
The temperature in Redding will stay above 80 degrees during the night and PG&E has positioned crews around the region to deal with outages.
References
WWA Summary for Excessive Heat Watch Issued by PQR (weather.gov)
UPDATE: Pacific Gas and Electric may shut off power due to fire risk (redding.com)