What to Keep on Hand for Fire Season Power Outages

Summer aka fire season can be a time of power outages.

In high-wind, high-heat times (when there’s a greater danger of fire), the power company may preemptively turn off the power to prevent fires starting from downed trees on power lines, KATU reports.

In the city of Portland, the West Hills is the area most likely to experience these public-safety power shutoffs, though other areas around the region are at risk too. You can check the power company PGE’s map to see if your home is in an area that is more likely to be impacted. Power was turned off during high winds last September, for example, canceling school in the West Hills.

PGE recommends a power outage kit, particularly for neighborhoods most impacted, but it’s not a bad list for any type of emergency:

🔦 Flashlights and/or headlamps

📻 Battery- or hand-powered radio and fans

🔋 Batteries

🚗 Car chargers for phones and other devices

🚰 Bottled water for people and animals (if you rely on electricity to pump water)

🧊 Frozen ice packs or handmade options like frozen water in bags or bottles

☎️ Emergency numbers (PGE's Customer Service, for a start, is 503-228-6322)

Also check out PGE’s longer list of items to have on hand.