SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 | 5A
BURN from page 1A
Though the date is typical
for the area and there has been
a recent spate of rain, trends
show that the region has been
getting both warmer and dri-
er over the years, according
to National Oceanic and At-
mospheric
Administration
(NOAA) data.
Scott Borgioli, a meteorol-
ogist based in Cottage Grove,
attested that the nation’s con-
tinental West is overall getting
warmer, experiencing a rise in
the snowline and seeing earlier
spring snow melts.
Borgioli recently conducted
a special study to answer local
agricultural concerns.
“I’ve been fielding a lot of
questions from the local com-
munity,” he said. “People are
asking ‘Are we drying up?’ and,
‘Is Oregon burning up?’ This
prompted me to do a study,
even though I’ve already been
seeing these trends in my 20-
plus years as a meteorologist.”
Much of the study is based
on data from NOAA’s Nation-
al Centers for Environmental
Information, which shows a
marked rise in average sum-
mer high temperatures be-
tween 1991 and 2020. In the
long term, annual average
temperature trends in the re-
gion have also seen a gradual
increase between 1895 and
2020.
Borgioli also pointed to an
increase in dryness.
Though drought recordings
in Oregon dating back to 1895
show that swings between dry
and wet periods are frequent,
March 1 through May 31 this
year marked the driest meteo-
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rological spring on record.
Over the past 45 years, said
Borgioli, many areas have had
increases in the average time
without precipitation events,
which means not only drier
summers, but during the other
seasons as well. Precipitation
events themselves are also be-
coming more varied.
The global temperature for
May 2021 tied with 2018 as the
sixth highest for the month of
May in the 142-year NOAA re-
cord, which dates back to 1880.
Every 10 years, NOAA’s
“30-year Climate Normals”
are updated. The most recent
update occurred on May 4,
2021, to cover the period of
1991 through 2020. The trends
show warmer temperatures
and changes in precipitation
patterns.
Eugene, for example, saw
5.27 inches less rainfall in the
new climate normal period.
The city’s period of 1981-
2010 saw 46.10 inches of rain-
fall, but for the updated period
of 1991-2020, the new Normal
Annual Precipitation was at
40.83 inches.
Nationally, the Southwest
is trending toward longer and
more frequent droughts and
the trend has crept up into
parts of Oregon as well.
Borgioli pointed to more
episodes of strong, persistent,
high pressure in the Pacific
Ocean which “block” storms as
part of the reason for some loss
of annual precipitation.
“Increased variability and
overall lower precipitation has
strong influence on agricul-
ture, vegetation and wildfires,”
said Borgioli. “Increased time
between precipitation events
has a large impact on wildfires
and also affects soil, livestock,
vegetation and wildlife.”
Borgioli pointed out that the
changes in climate are due to
both natural and human influ-
ences.
“We are seeing changes in
the climate, some of which ap-
pear to be influenced by man
— greenhouse gases trapping
heat and causing a slightly
warmer environment,” he said.
“Basically, greenhouse gases
act to prevent more radiation
from leaving Earth at night.
This means the incoming solar
radiation (sunshine) has less
net escape during the night
due to these gases acting like
a ‘blanket.’ The end result is
more overall heat.”
Natural phenomena have
had an effect this year as well.
The relatively weak turnout
this last season of the climate
pattern La Nina, for example,
impacted the lack of precipita-
tion this year while a stronger
presence may have meant a
wetter period.
Ultimately, the overall
trends point to higher fire
risks.
“Summers are getting
warmer and thus this affects
wildfire behavior,” said Borg-
ioli.
Fire management
Tuesday, June 15, was the
final day for outdoor burning
for most Lane County resi-
dents until October.
During the fire season, yard
debris may not be burned,
however LRAPA noted that re-
moving overgrown vegetation
is important work to defend
against wildfires.
Lane Forest Products, Rex-
ius, or Lane County’s transfer
stations and dumpsites are re-
sources available to the com-
munity to dispose of debris.
Composting and chipping are
also encouraged.
Residents who burn during
the closed season are subject to
violations ranging from $50 to
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O FF
B AYSTREET
B ISTRO
Create an emergency plan
• Assemble an emergency
supply kit and place it in a safe
spot. Remember to include
important documents, medi-
cations, and personal identi-
fication.
• Develop an emergency
evacuation plan and practice
3pm to 9pm
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165 Maple Street, Florence, OR
Offbaystreetbistro.com
541-902-6447
Drift wood Shores Resort
88416 1st Avenue, Florence
We are open for dine-in, take-out,
sidewalk & patio seating
We are doing everything
we can to safely
serve our community.
We are open:
11am to 9pm every day
F
E
BEST O
F LO E N C
R
During the time a wildfire is
in your area
• Stay aware of the latest
news and updates from your
local media and fire depart-
ment. Get your family, home
and pets prepared to evacuate.
• Place your emergency
supply kit and other valuables
in your vehicle.
• Move patio or deck furni-
ture, cushions, doormats, and
potted plants in wooden con-
tainers either indoors or as far
away from the buildings, shed,
and garage as possible.
• Close and protect your
building’s openings, including
attic and basement doors and
vents, windows, garage doors,
and pet doors to prevent em-
bers from penetrating your
buildings.
• Connect garden hoses and
fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage
cans, tubs, or other large con-
tainers with water. Firefighters
can potentially use these items
during a wildfire.
• Leave as early as possible
before you’re told to evacuate.
Do not linger once evacua-
tion orders have been given.
Promptly leaving your home
and neighborhood clears
roads for firefighters to get
equipment to fight the fire and
helps ensure residents’ safety.
After a wildfire has been
contained
• Continue to listen to news
updates for information about
the fire. Then, return home
only when authorities say it is
safe.
• Visit FEMA/Ready.gov for
more information regarding
wildfire after an emergency.
Learn more about how to
protect your home, business,
and property at www.firewise.
org or disastersafety.org.
Richard Beaudro
Principal Broker
541 991-6677
Covered heated porch,
In-door dining and ToGo’s
Call
2020
In your community
• Contact your local plan-
ning/zoning office to find out
if your home or business is in
a high wildfire risk area and
if there are specific local or
county ordinances you should
be following.
• If you are part of a home-
owner association, work with
them to identify regulations
that incorporate proven pre-
paredness landscaping, home
design, and building material
use.
• Talk to your local fire de-
partment about how to pre-
pare, when to evacuate, and
the response you and your
neighbors can expect in the
event of a wildfire.
Closed Mon., Tue., Wed.
Surfside Restaurant
at Drift wood Shores Resort
Is Open for Dine-in & take out
from 4pm - 8:30 pm
Tuesday - Saturday
VOTED
it with everyone in your home
and business.
• Plan two ways out of your
neighborhood and designate a
meeting place.
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LOCATED IN
OLD TOWN
$2,500 or more.
The Lane County Fire De-
fense Board will decide to
open the fall burning season
on Oct. 1 or delay its opening
due to high fire risk.
The Special Districts Asso-
ciation of Oregon’s member
fire districts have asked for
public and fire district assis-
tance to reduce fire spread in
the event of a wildfire.
The National Fire Protec-
tion Association (NFPA) of-
fers some tips on mitigating
the risks:
• Before a wildfire threatens
an area, much can be done to
minimize risk.
• Creating “defensible space”
is a critical first step in and
around homes and businesses.
• Clearing leaves and oth-
er debris from gutters, eaves,
porches, and decks prevents
embers from igniting build-
ings and removing dead vege-
tation, firewood piles and oth-
er items from under a deck or
porch and within 10 feet of the
building can give a location a
safety buffer.
• Screen or box in areas be-
low patios and decks with 1/8-
inch wire mesh to prevent de-
bris and combustible materials
from accumulating.
• Remove flammable mate-
rials (firewood stacks, propane
tanks, etc.) within 30 feet of
your foundation and outbuild-
ings, including garages and
sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t
let it touch your buildings,
deck, or porch.
• Wildfire can spread to
treetops. Prune trees so the
lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet
from the ground.
• Keep your lawn hydrated
and maintained. If it is brown,
cut it down to reduce fire in-
tensity. Dry grass and shrubs
are fuel for wildfire.
• Don’t let debris and lawn
cuttings linger. Instead, dis-
pose of these items quickly to
reduce fuel for a fire.
• Inspect shingles or roof
tiles. Replace or repair those
that are loose or missing to
prevent ember penetration.
• Cover exterior attic vents
with metal wire mesh no
larger than 1/8 inch to pre-
vent sparks from entering the
building.
• Enclose undereave and
soffit vents or screens with
metal mesh to prevent ember
entry.
1285 Bay Street, Old Town Florence
(541) 902-8338
www.1285Restobar.com
240
HOURS
Is your family prepared?
If an emergency happens in our community,
it may take emergency workers some time to reach you.
You should be prepared to take care of yourself and
your family for a minimum of 240 hours.
Get your emergency kit started with these essentials:
❑ Battery powered radio
❑ First aid kit an manual
❑ Sleeping bags and blankets (wool or thermal)
❑ Manual can opener
❑ Waterproof/windproof matches
❑ Water storage (1 gallon/person/day)
❑ Water purifi cation tablets
❑ Non-Perishable Food
❑ Utility knife
❑ Emergency candles
❑ Extra eyeglasses and contact lenses
❑ Essential medications
This message brought to you by the West Lane
Emergency Operations Group. www.wleog.org
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