A red flag warning was issued Thursday for Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and forest from Mount Hood south to Diamond Peak, the National Weather Service said.
Extremely hot temperatures near 100 degrees and east winds of 10 to 15 mph mean that wildfire could spread rapidly, meteorologists said.
“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 warning said .
The warning extends from Washington’s Gifford Pinchot and through Mount Hood and Willamette national forests.
The warning ends at 11 p.m. on Thursday.
The alert means current wildfires could grow while any ignition could spread rapidly. All campfires are currently banned in all three of the national forests impacted by the red flag warning.
East winds are known for causing extreme fire behavior in Oregon and fueled major wildfire blowups in September of 2020 and 2022. However, these winds are not as powerful or widespread as those events, meteorologists said.