By
Dylan J. Darling The Bulletin Mar 20, 2015
A warm
winter with light snowfall in the mountains near Bend means wildfire season
could come early.
winter with light snowfall in the mountains near Bend means wildfire season
could come early.
Timber
fires do not typically occur in Central Oregon until August, said Ed Keith,
Deschutes County forester, but the lack of snow may lead to big blazes earlier.
“This year it may be June or July,” he said Wednesday.
fires do not typically occur in Central Oregon until August, said Ed Keith,
Deschutes County forester, but the lack of snow may lead to big blazes earlier.
“This year it may be June or July,” he said Wednesday.
Last
winter was similar, although with more snow, and a late spring wildfire brought
a scare to Bend before Central Oregon’s usual summer fire season. The
6,908-acre Two Bulls Fire started June 7 and prompted the evacuation of nearly
200 homes in and near west Bend. The human-caused blaze, the exact cause of
which remains under investigation by the Oregon Department of Forestry, burned mainly
through private timberland near Tumalo Reservoir. While fire season last year
was busy around the
Northwest, few fires affected Bend after the Two Bulls Fire.
winter was similar, although with more snow, and a late spring wildfire brought
a scare to Bend before Central Oregon’s usual summer fire season. The
6,908-acre Two Bulls Fire started June 7 and prompted the evacuation of nearly
200 homes in and near west Bend. The human-caused blaze, the exact cause of
which remains under investigation by the Oregon Department of Forestry, burned mainly
through private timberland near Tumalo Reservoir. While fire season last year
was busy around the
Northwest, few fires affected Bend after the Two Bulls Fire.
Whether
fire season comes early this year this year depends on weather this spring,
which starts today. Spring begins with a dismal snowpack in Central Oregon.
fire season comes early this year this year depends on weather this spring,
which starts today. Spring begins with a dismal snowpack in Central Oregon.
The
Deschutes/Crooked River Basin snowpack was only 9 percent of normal for this
time of year as of Wednesday, according to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Many of the automated snow sites monitored by the federal agency
report no snow for the first time in three decades of recording data. A year
ago the basin had 54 percent of the normal snowpack on March 20.
Deschutes/Crooked River Basin snowpack was only 9 percent of normal for this
time of year as of Wednesday, according to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Many of the automated snow sites monitored by the federal agency
report no snow for the first time in three decades of recording data. A year
ago the basin had 54 percent of the normal snowpack on March 20.
Rain
fell in Bend last week, and the National Weather Service forecast calls for
springlike weather, with rain expected to fall in Bend tonight and rain and
snow possible early next week.
fell in Bend last week, and the National Weather Service forecast calls for
springlike weather, with rain expected to fall in Bend tonight and rain and
snow possible early next week.
“We are
gaining some precipitation now, which will help,” said Rachel Cobb, a Weather
Service meteorologist in Pendleton, “but I don’t know if it will be enough to
make up for what we didn’t get over the winter.”
gaining some precipitation now, which will help,” said Rachel Cobb, a Weather
Service meteorologist in Pendleton, “but I don’t know if it will be enough to
make up for what we didn’t get over the winter.”
Starting
next week, Cobb plans to start compiling daily fire weather forecasts Monday
through Friday, detailing temperatures, relative humidity and wind patterns —
weather factors used by firefighters to determine potential fire behavior.
next week, Cobb plans to start compiling daily fire weather forecasts Monday
through Friday, detailing temperatures, relative humidity and wind patterns —
weather factors used by firefighters to determine potential fire behavior.
For
now, firefighters chiefly use the forecasts to plan controlled burns, which
have already begun in Central Oregon, but later they use them for wildfires.
During wildfire season the weather service produces fire weather forecasts
seven days a week.
now, firefighters chiefly use the forecasts to plan controlled burns, which
have already begun in Central Oregon, but later they use them for wildfires.
During wildfire season the weather service produces fire weather forecasts
seven days a week.
The
Oregon Department of Forestry does not have any immediate plans to start
staffing for fire season or issue fire restrictions early, but that could
change with the weather, said George Ponte, Central Oregon District forester
for the Oregon Department of Forestry in Prineville.
Oregon Department of Forestry does not have any immediate plans to start
staffing for fire season or issue fire restrictions early, but that could
change with the weather, said George Ponte, Central Oregon District forester
for the Oregon Department of Forestry in Prineville.
The
lack of snowfall has left grasses in forests around Central Oregon ready to
burn, he said. Snow typically crunches down grasses, lowering the likelihood of
the grasses holding a flame once the snow has melted. Without snow, the grasses
are taller and warm weather could dry them out.
lack of snowfall has left grasses in forests around Central Oregon ready to
burn, he said. Snow typically crunches down grasses, lowering the likelihood of
the grasses holding a flame once the snow has melted. Without snow, the grasses
are taller and warm weather could dry them out.
“Those
could go at any time with a spark or a careless match,” Ponte said, noting that
most early season wildfires in Central Oregon are caused by people.
could go at any time with a spark or a careless match,” Ponte said, noting that
most early season wildfires in Central Oregon are caused by people.