The Portland office of the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning Saturday morning that takes effect from 2 p.m. through 9 p.m. Saturday due to critical fire weather conditions.
A fire weather watch issued Friday is no longer in effect, the NWS said.
The area in effect for the Red Flag Warning ends just past the junction of Highway 6 and 8 in Gales Creek, and just past Buxton on Highway 26 for the greater Banks region, and extends all the way east to the crest of the Cascades.
North winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, a relative humidity as low as 21%, and high temperatures can prove a dangerous combination for wildfire starts.
“Conditions 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,” the NWS said in the warning.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Banks Post and sister news publications the Gales Creek Journal and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.