Wildfires in Oregon have dominated the news in the last several years, and statistics show the number of days with extreme wildfire danger has more than doubled since 1979. Because of this ever-increasing risk, all Oregonians must be prepared for wildfires and power outages and to do their part to help minimize their damage and disruption to protect the safety of our community.
Here are the notices that may be issued by the National Weather Service during wildfire season:
A Red Flag Warning is issued by the NWS when warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. A red flag warning means there is an increased probability of a quickly spreading fire in the area within 24 hours.
A Fire Weather Watch alerts the public that upcoming weather conditions could result in extensive wildland fire occurrence or extreme fire behavior. A watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring.
What is McMinnville Water & Light doing to keep our community safe during Red Flag Warnings?
MW&L takes a proactive approach to ensure the safety of our community. During Red Flag Warnings and Extreme Fire Risk weather events:
MW&L will implement Enhanced Sensitivity Mode for power distribution protective equipment in higher-risk areas. These protective settings modify high-voltage electric switches and relays to make them more sensitive to faults.
This means, just like a circuit breaker in your home, the switch senses when trouble occurs (such as a tree branch falling on a power line) and instantaneously shuts off the power.
How might this affect our electric customers?
-
- If power trips off while in the Enhanced Sensitivity Mode, MW&L will not re-energize the line until our staff has patrolled the area to make sure it’s safe to do so.
- Any power outages that occur may take longer to restore due to these extra protective measures.
- Customers who live in the designated Enhanced Sensitivity Mode areas on the map below should be aware that they may experience unexpected power outages due to these safety protocols.
- Our team is committed to promptly restoring power after inspection and necessary measures are completed, and we apologize for any inconvenience.
What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff?
- In order to keep communities safe, local energy companies may need to turn off power during extreme weather or wildfire conditions. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).
- While PSPS is a tool that is available if needed, having our power distribution equipment in Enhanced Sensitivity Mode will lessen the likelihood that we will need to enact PSPS.
What should I do if there’s an outage?
First all, do not call 911. During an outage, you can reach us 24/7 by phone at 503-472-6158. We suggest checking our website first for information about the outage, which might save you a phone call and keep our phone lines from getting tied up. During large outages, we may not be able to respond to every call received, but McMinnville Water and Light’s top priority is your safety and restoring your power as quickly as possible.
What if the outage occurs outside of MW&L’s normal business hours?
If you call outside of our business hours (7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. M-Th), you will get a recording; press ‘2’ to be connected to MW&L’s answering service. The answering service will forward your information to the appropriate crew for response.
What can I do to prepare for a power outage?
Customers should be prepared with emergency supplies and stay informed by following MW&L’s social media accounts. Click here to learn what emergency preparedness actions you should take and what supplies you should have in the event a power outage.