Winds, heat, and fireworks equal ‘perfect storm’

By Terry Murry on Friday, July 2nd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – Crops are tinder dry and the drought is deepening in Umatilla County. Farmers and ranchers are worried, and had a lot to do with the county’s decision to ban the personal use of fireworks.

“It’s just the perfect storm,” Commissioner John Shafer said. “My phone started getting lit up, my emails started getting hit up pretty hard, and I realize this is getting serious.”

The wildfire season has begun, and Shafer was sure he didn’t want Umatilla County to suffer like communities in Western Oregon did last year.

“You know, if you look back at last summer, two cities were completely burned,” he said. “That’s something we want to avoid at all costs.”