PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a week of wildfire-related road closures, people traveling across Oregon should continue to plan their routes carefully. The Oregon Department of Transportation warned that fires are still actively burning near many highways, causing highways to be closed and reopened with little notice.
With a long, hot summer set to continue for several more weeks, wildfire disruptions across the state are likely to continue, with some routes likely to remain impassable, the department said in an update on Friday.
ODOT urges people who must travel to plan routes away from wildfires. Before you begin your trip, check TripCheck.com for the latest road conditions. TripCheck provides 24-hour live updates from our dispatch center. As road conditions change, you’ll be updated immediately.
Here are some important tips for traveling during wildfire season:
- Use designated detours: Follow official detour signs and routes provided by traffic authorities. Don’t follow GPS directions onto local or forest roads, which are often not suitable for interstate traffic. If a highway is closed, nearby local roads may be closed as well.
- Prepare for a power outage: Power outages are common in wildfire affected areas, so treat non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops and be aware that roadside message boards and TripCheck cameras may not work.
- Carry an emergency kit: The Oregon Emergency Management Agency recommends having these supplies in your vehicle before you leave.
- Driving safely in smoke: Driving in smoky conditions is similar to driving in heavy fog: Slow down, maintain a steady pace, and stay alert. Use your headlights to increase visibility.
- Stay home if possible: The safest place to wait until the road reopens is at home – do not travel to the closure and wait there as it may last for hours or days.
Check out ODOT’s Flickr album for photos and videos of the wildfire burning near the state highway.
For more information on the current fires, visit the National Joint Fire Centre website.
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The Oregon Emergency Management Agency encourages people traveling by road to take fire safety precautions.
Oregon Department of Emergency Management – 07/25/24 6:46 p.m.
If you’re traveling by road this summer, especially if you’re heading into Eastern Oregon, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) recommend fire safety measures and preparation.
The 2024 wildfire season is shaping up to be one for the records. With three large complex fires currently burning acres of land east of the Cascades, due to Governor Tina Kotek invoking the Fire Emergency Act on the Darke and Battle Mountain Complex Fires, fire officials and OEM are urging people to take every precaution possible to keep the problem from spreading.
As you pack up and prepare to hit the road and explore Oregon, it’s important to stay up to date on road closures on Tripcheck.com, check with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) about campfire restrictions, and have emergency supplies ready in case you get stranded.
Here is a list of items to consider for a basic emergency vehicle kit:
- Jumper cables
- Flare or Reflection Triangle
- Car Phone Charger
- blanket
- map
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle for help
- Dust masks are useful when the air is smoky or dusty
- Prepare plastic sheeting, scissors, duct tape, etc. if necessary.
- Wet wipes, garbage bags, toilet paper, plastic ties for personal hygiene
- Print out a map of your local area in case your service goes out.
- Mobile phone and spare charger
- cash
- A fire extinguisher that you know how to use
Finally, pack extra water and snacks in case you end up stranded for a while.
In addition to preparing an emergency kit, ODOT urges travelers to check Tripcheck.com to see conditions along their route. It’s also important to make sure your vehicle is well-maintained, has plenty of gas and your tires are in good condition.
Here are some tips to help you travel safely in the event of a fire:
- When off roads, stay on paved surfaces whenever possible.
- Avoid roadside areas where dry grass or other fuels may come into contact with hot parts of the vehicle and start a fire.
- Do not throw lit cigarettes or flammable materials out of your car windows.
- Thoroughly extinguish all smoking material. Do not extinguish in dry grass.
- Make sure the chain is secured and not dragging as this can cause sparks.
Maintaining your vehicle and carrying the right equipment
- Running on rims will cause sparks, so be sure to maintain proper tire pressure.
- Prevent vehicle fires by having your vehicle serviced regularly by a professionally trained mechanic.
- Heat or an electrical spark coming into contact with leaking flammable vehicle interior liquids can easily cause a vehicle interior fire.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has tips on preventing wildfires on its website.
More tips on how to prepare your car for a road trip can be found at Ready.gov/car , and check out Be 2 Weeks Ready to build self-reliance and community preparedness.
