EUGENE, Ore. — The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) has switched to wildfire safety settings for power lines that serve approximately 10% of customers — mostly in the Laurel Hill Valley, South Hills and Southwest Hills — as hot, dry, windy conditions bear down on the area, the utility said on Monday.
The switch was prompted by a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the Southern Willamette Valley from 1 to 8 p.m. on Monday.
Critical fire weather conditions are expected Monday afternoon, with gusty winds up to 25 miles per hour and humidity dipping to 15 to 20%. Current forecasts say Tuesday and Wednesday will be warmer and smokier as smoke drifts in from wildfires outside the area, but with calmer winds…