The Gorge is in red flag watch status.
In fire prevention and protection terms, that says conditions are present that could lead to wildfire and the possible result of loss of property and human life.
And those conditions certainly are present: high temperatures and low humidity persist, and all those bushes and grasses out there that flames love to feed on? They are ready to ignite.
“We’re still in a very high fire danger level due to all of the fine dense fuels,” said fire marshal Jim Trammell of West Side Fire District. “Once started, fires tend to move extremely fast.”
Trammell said people have been inquiring about getting permits to burn – but the burn ban remains in effect, and existing permits are cancelled, “until we get sufficient rainfall,” Trammell said.
A red flag watch is one step back from red flag warning, which is where the Hood River valley was several days ago when east winds were present, but the reduced status does not mean the public can relax.
Until consistent soaking rains hit our area, we need to be on the watch.
A watch “gets your attention,” Trammell said. It means there is high potential for something to happen; red flag warning means “those situations are happening now.”
Hood River Fire Chief Devon Wells said last week he’s particularly worried about the impacts hunting season could have on the fire season.
“The big concern we have now is hunting season, so there’s a lot more traffic in the wilderness, and cars are backfiring, and some people may get careless with a campfire,” he explained. “All those things are dangerous this time of year because of the dryness.”
Just because the calendar says autumn does not mean the fire season is over.
“Come September, school is back and people are into normal routines, and they say, ‘we’re not in summer anymore.’ But we’re still in summer,” Wells said
As Trammel puts it, “as long as we stay careful, we should be okay.”
The Oregon department of Forestry website provides excellent information on fire prevention, including keeping dead vegetation cleaned from 30 feet around your home.
It is sobering to consider that there is not an area of the state that has not either recently been hit or currently experiencing some degree of wildfire. Just across the river in the past week two blazes broke out, and the smoke from the Estacada fire, which resulted in home evacuations, is a reminder of what can happen.
“We could have the same kind of fire with the same disastrous consequences if we’re not cautious,” Trammell said, noting that most fires are human caused.
Fire Prevention Week returns the first week of October. This is a good time to think about fire prevention within the house and outside.
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