Weather Alert
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland has issued a Red Flag Warning for dry and unstable conditions in the Willamette Valley. This warning is in effect from 1 pm to 8 pm, Friday, May 10.
NWS Warns:
- Weather may be favorable for rapid fire spread which may threaten life and property.
- Use extra caution with potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas.
- Outdoor burning is not recommended.
- Update: According to the Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Prevention, Lane County has issued a burn ban until conditions improve. Other counties that have issued burn bans include Washington, Yamhill, Polk, Marion, Benton, Linn, and Jackson.
How Does this Affect You?
We need to be vigilant about fire protection and be ready to evacuate if a notice is issued from local public safety officials. Oregon's Office of Emergency Management website offers several wildfire prevention and protection resources: visit the Department of Oregon Hazards and Preparedness page.
What is a Red Flag Warning?
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of conditions can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
At Emerald People's Utility District (EPUD), we care about your safety and urge you to be extremely cautious during this Red Flag Warning.
Hay Season
Hay season is starting early this year, and summer has the potential to be hot and dry. While EPUD's crews are always on the lookout for potential fire hazards near power lines, they cannot remove tree limbs, dead trees, or "danger trees" from customer property if they are outside of the power line right-of-way.
What is the Customer's Responsibility?
- Customers are responsible for making sure trees aren’t growing into the power line that comes from our distribution system to your house. If limbs are getting too close, or you have a dead tree that may fall, contact a professional tree service to trim or remove the tree.
- Call EPUD at (541) 744-7492 at least 48 hours before work on your tree(s) begins. EPUD will arrange to disconnect the power line so the tree can be safely trimmed or removed.
- Never attempt to trim or remove trees yourself if they are growing near distribution lines or your service line! Doing so can put you at risk of deadly electrical shock.
- If you see hay collecting on power lines, contact EPUD at (541) 744-7492. Our servicemen will remove the hay from lines as a preventive measure to reduce outages, prevent fires, and save money.