Wasco County Declares State of Emergency, Fireworks and Burn Ban Begin June 15th
By Cole Goodwin
Wasco County has declared a local state of emergency due to drought and approved a fireworks and burn ban. The ban will being on June 15th at 12:01 a.m. The ban on burns and fireworks remains in effect until fire authorities deem it safe to lift the ban.
The ban has come earlier than usual this year due to recommendations made by the United States Department of Agriculture, Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue, and other fire agencies.
The USDA has designated Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, and Hood River County and thirteen other counties in Oregon as natural disaster areas due to drought.
The designation will allow the USDA to offer emergency credit to agricultural producers. Emergency loans can be used to replace essential farm equipment, and livestock, or be used for debt refinancing and reorganization of farming operations.
“Despite a wetter and cooler April, long-term precipitation deficits continue to remain stable or have increased for most major basins, leading to a continuation of drought conditions throughout much of Oregon…The exception is in the northwest, where drought conditions have improved significantly over the last 3 months due to above median precipitation and near to above median snowpack for much of winter, ” reads the County Commissioners board packet.
Approximately 37% of the State of Oregon has been experiencing moderate to severe drought since the year 2000.
The Oregon Drought Monitor which tracks past, current, and forecasted snowpack, rainfall, streamflow volumes, and temperatures, shows that due to multi-year drought impacts nearly 90% of the state is experiencing drought. Of that, 69% of the state is forecasted to experience severe or exceptional drought conditions.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center three month outlook also forecasts below normal precipitation, and above normal temperatures for areas east of the Cascade crest in Oregon.
