Ore. Inferno Red Flag Warning, Medical Alert: 914 More Lightning Strikes, Masks for Residents Recommended

P100 mask recommended for children and the elderly in Medford, Oregon due to unhealthy air, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.

A Red Flag warning has been issued in southwest Oregon as more lightning is predicted in the region’s historic inferno. Due to dangerously unhealthy air, masks are now recommended for children and the elderly in the Medford area, according to the Department of Environmental Quality and Medford Alert on Wednesday evening.

The Red Flag warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is in effect through midnight on Thursday, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry, Southwest Oregon.

Along with some rain, 914 lightning strikes hit Oregon statewide overnight Tuesday and Wednesday, many in areas already burning in the nation’s worst fire today — and possibly in history if predictions are accurate.

“We expect to keep getting this for the rest of the week,” said Jeree Mills, a spokeswoman at the federal fire center in Portland, about the lightning and rain. “It can help, or it can cause major activity. It’s hard to tell.”

There are presently four major areas burning, each named. That number has decreased as some of the uncontained fires merged.

On the southern edge of Whiskey fire in Douglas County, fire burned vigorously out of Beaver Creek, jumping lines and roads. Crews there were told to retreat to safety zones.

West of Whiskey Fire, is the Big Windy Fire where a 19-year-old water truck driver died in a crash Tuesday. Fire crews reported keeping flames from jumping the Rogue River to the north.

“This area had three separate fires until Tuesday, when they merged into one,” Associated Press reported.

At the Douglas Complex, that had been the worst group of fires, residents of approximately 60 homes under an evacuation order have been told they could return home.

Witching Hour

It was unclear exactly what whipped up that fire, but local microclimates often make turbulent conditions between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

“It’s kind of our witching hour,” she said.

The National Guard along with local and interstate fire workers comprise some 5000 responders in the region.

“Currently in #Medford the DEQ #AQI in the UNHEALTHY level,” MedfordAlert tweeted Tuesday evening. “Be advised. Masks recommended for children/elderly N95 or P100.”

Sources: SWOFIRE, Associated Press

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