August 5, 2026 3:30 a.m. 

With a Red Flag alert in effect on Wednesday. Douglas Electric Cooperative is urging members to prepare now for the possibility of an extended outage during the extreme fire-weather window.

In a release, the utility said the cooperative is not planning a Public Safety Power Shutoff. The release added that if an outage does occur during the red flag warning — whether from a falling tree, an equipment failure, or another cause — the cooperative will not restore power until after the warning expires.

Douglas Electric Cooperative said the decision is based on Wednesday’s Red Flag Warning and should not be interpreted as a standing policy for all outages, as they evaluate each event based on fire danger, weather conditions, and the expected duration of the risk. Because Wednesday’s warning is expected to be relatively short, DEC believes it is appropriate to leave the system energized and, if an outage occurs, delay restoration until conditions improve. Different weather conditions or a longer-duration event could require a different operational response, including other protective measures.

Douglas Electric Cooperative Chief Operating Officer Phil Bigler said restoring power when fire conditions are at their absolute worst is not in the best interest of their members. Bigler said re-energizing a power line always carries some risk. When the air is extremely dry and the wind is blowing, even a small problem can quickly become a major wildfire. Bigler said waiting until the warning lifts allows crews to restore service safely.

The release said cooperative members are encouraged to plan ahead. Anyone who relies on electricity for essential needs should prepare for the possibility of an extended outage, including those who depend on medical equipment or devices that require power, refrigerated medications, or other electricity-dependent essential needs.