Officials warn of dry conditions, gusty winds, and low humidity from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday as heat rises to 100 degrees in Ashland; cooling centers open for relief

Ashland.news staff report

The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a red flag warning for dry conditions, gusty winds, and critically low humidity from 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in areas of Southern Oregon, including Ashland.

The weather service issues a red flag warning when they identify weather conditions that promote rapid spread of fire, which may become life-threatening. It does not mean there is a fire.

According to the weather service, the area is facing “moderate to strong winds” along with “critically low relative humidity,” which can lead to rapid growth and spread of new and existing fires.

The weather service’s red flag warning follows a Sunday, Aug. 10, announcement that the Oregon Department of Forestry would move fire danger levels in Jackson and Josephine counties to “extreme” at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12.

On Tuesday, the following restrictions will take effect:

• The use of power saws is prohibited, excluding electric chainsaws.
• The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
• The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited. This includes lawnmowers, weed eaters, and any other type of grass-trimming equipment. The mowing of green lawns is allowed at any time.
• The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned above is prohibited.

The following fire prevention regulations are currently in effect and will remain in effect until the fire danger level drops significantly:

• Debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. In other locations clear of dry vegetation, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations.
• Fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land are prohibited. Fireworks are also prohibited on all BLM lands.
• Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s fire-safe instructions.
• The use of exploding targets is prohibited.
• The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
• Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial cultivation and harvest of crops.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.

‘Extreme heat’

Meanwhile, an ‘extreme heat’ warning will remain in effect until Wednesday, Aug. 13, with the high temperature in Ashland forecast to hit 100 degrees on Tuesday, Aug. 12, and 105 degrees in Medford. Overnight lows will remain unusually warm, in the upper 60s in Ashland and up to 70 degrees in Medford.

Staying cool

Ashland will have two cooling centers available for those looking to get out of the heat on Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to a city news release.

Opportunities for Housing, Resources & Assistance, an Ashland nonprofit, will have a center at 2350 Ashland St. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 541-631-2235.

A second cooling center will be open from noon to 7 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church at 44 N. 2nd St. The facility will be managed by Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice. For more, contact Avram Sacks, coordinator, at 541-631-2235.

For alerts about shelter and center spaces in and around Ashland, text 97520SHELTER or 888777.

Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at stevem@ashland.news.