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Extreme fire danger Saturday east of the Cascades as strong winds and low humidity arrive
KATU • • nation
Key Points:
- The National Weather Service has issued Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warnings for several zones east of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington due to high fire danger on Saturday, with other areas under standard red flag warnings.
- Central and eastern Oregon are under a critical fire risk, while central and eastern Washington, parts of north-central Oregon, and the northern Lower Columbia River Basin face an extremely critical risk, the highest level since the 2020 Labor Day fires.
- Strong westerly winds gusting up to 45 mph combined with very low humidity and extremely dry fuels are expected to create conditions favorable for rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior.
- Several large wildfires are already ongoing in the region, with fuel conditions approaching or exceeding the 95th percentile, raising concerns about significant fire spread and broad safety issues on Saturday.
- Authorities warn that Saturday could be a high-impact fire day, and KATU News will continue monitoring wildfire developments east of the Cascades.
