PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — People in areas at high risk for wildfires in the Portland, Ore. metro area are bracing for potential power shutoffs this weekend.
Portland General Electric (PGE) says they may have to shut off power in 10 areas in the metro area because of concerns about high winds knocking trees and branches into power lines, which may spark a fire in the hot and dry conditions.
Platt says people living in the Public Safety Power shutoff zones should have already gotten a notification of the potential shutoffs. And they'll get another notification via email or phone notification if they decide to shut off the power.
We aim to give up to four hours advance notice if it’s looking likely we’re going to turn off power to help protect public safety,” Platt said.
The shutoff could happen as early as midnight Friday morning. And Platt says even after it's safe to turn the power back on, they have to inspect the lines to make sure nothing fell on them before switching it back on.
One of the areas affected is the Redland Road/Fisher's Mill Road area of Oregon City. People living there remember the 2020 Labor Day wildfires well.
“It was pretty scary, so we were helping the firefighters put out hot spots here, and they got a notice that it was coming over the ridge and they said, 'everybody leave now,'” said Mary Parker.
She said wildfires came up to her front and back yards in 2020. Parker and many of her neighbors filled gas and propane cans to power generators in case PGE cuts the power.
Parker said preparing for wildfire outages now just seems like a part of life in rural Clackamas County. “You get used to it,” she said.
“Most often these things don’t materialize, but in the event that it does, just want to be prepared,” said one of Parker's neighbors Gary Thompson. We met him while he filled gas cans at the Redland gas station.
Jennifer Gaytan and her son Aaron filled up several gas cans at the same station for their home generators. “We can keep the water running, keep the freezer and refrigerator running, and have some power in the living room at least,” she said.
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