The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for Clark County set to start Friday afternoon.
The fire watch was scheduled due to dry and unstable conditions. The weather service says the watch will remain in effect until Friday evening.
County communities affected by the watch are below 1,000 feet.
“Conditions may be favorable for rapid fire spread which may threaten life and property. Use extra caution with potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas. Outdoor burning is not recommended,” the weather service said.
Just south across the Columbia River, the weather service issued a red flag warning beginning at 1 p.m. today for much of Northwest Oregon. The warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office on Wednesday imposed a temporary debris burn ban. If and when the ban is lifted, burners are advised to check weather forecasts and constantly supervise burn piles.
Fire districts have sent out news releases advising homeowners to remove dead plant and tree material within 30 feet of structures; clean roofs, gutters, crawl spaces, attics, porches and decks; trim vegetation under and between trees; water lawns; post addresses near driveway entrances and on the front of homes; and not keep flammable materials near wall exteriors or under decks and porches.
For a list of some more hot weather do’s and don’ts, click here.
Friday night, the temperature will dip to 55 degrees in Vancouver. But intense heat will return on Saturday, with forecasters predicting a high of 89 degrees. Things will cool down a bit in the metro after the weekend: Sunday’s high is 80, Monday should reach 74, according to the weather service.
