The Oregon Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead as wildfires continue to disrupt traffic in many parts of Oregon.

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.