Douglas Electric Warns Outages May Last Longer During Red Flag Warning

Douglas Electric Cooperative is urging customers to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages during Wednesday’s Red Flag Warning.

The warning is scheduled to be in effect from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday as hot, dry and windy conditions increase the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires.

Douglas Electric emphasized that it is not planning a Public Safety Power Shutoff and will not intentionally turn off power to customers. However, if an outage occurs because of a fallen tree, equipment failure or another issue during the warning period, crews may wait until after the warning expires before restoring service.

The cooperative said re-energizing a power line always carries some risk. When vegetation is extremely dry and winds are elevated, even a small electrical problem could potentially ignite a wildfire.

Any outages that occur during the event could affect more customers and last longer than normal. Depending on conditions and the work required, some outages could continue into Thursday.

Customers are encouraged to prepare now, particularly those who rely on electricity for medical equipment, refrigerated medications, food storage or other essential needs.

Douglas Electric is also asking residents to share the information with neighbors who may not receive the cooperative’s online updates.

The Red Flag Warning includes the Umpqua Valley and portions of the Umpqua National Forest. Any fires that start during the warning period could spread quickly due to the expected weather conditions.