The weather through this weekend is raising concern with fire officials.
A release from the Oregon Department of Forestry said the month of May is generally associated with the blooming of flowers and the end of winter. That has all changed in 2020. While many people are eager to return to normal amid the Coronavirus pandemic, fire officials are also keeping an eye on the weather, and unusually dry conditions plaguing the region.
ODF Fire Prevention Coordinator Tom Fields said this is anything but normal. He said, “on top of concerns related to COVID-19, we’re witnessing early July-like conditions that bring with it the threat of wildfires”. He said that is even more evident with the forecast for abnormally high temperatures.
Fields said the already dry conditions due to well below normal precipitation levels in April, combined with forecasted temperatures, will elevate fire risk across much of Oregon through Mother’s Day. Field’s says that the number of fires to date in 2020 on ODF protected lands are twice the average for this time of year. More than half of this year’s fires have resulted from escaped debris burns.
Fields said the combination of the unseasonably dry conditions and the Coronavirus orders is contributing to an increase in fire activity. He said while homeowners are cleaning up around their property to create defensible space prior to fire season, the disposal of yard debris through burning has been problematic.
The release said with the early arrival of summer-like weather, Oregonians are encouraged to heed caution with any fire related activities. The release suggests covering debris burn piles with a tarp or other form of plastic sheeting and waiting until next fall to burn.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month and fire officials from multiple protection agencies are encouraging residents to do their part to Keep Oregon Green. For more information, go to www.keeporegongreen.com.