Intentional power cuts in Oregon to lessen fire danger
On Friday, fears of wildfires and power outages were not limited to California. In Oregon, the fear of heavy winds triggered purposeful power disruptions that could affect tens of thousands of customers
Local utilities are shutting down power as part of efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires in extremely dry and hot conditions. Power outages caused by intense fire conditions, which are typical in California, are new to the Pacific Northwest.
Schools in areas where power outages were planned canceled classes, and authorities urged residents to charge their mobile phones and prepare to evacuate immediately.
Climate change is bringing drier conditions to the Pacific Northwest, which necessitates practises that have been popular in fire-prone California for at least a decade, according to Erica Fleishman, head of Oregon State University's Oregon Climate Change Research Institute.