Quad City residents ride out record-setting heat wave

QUAD CITIES – As temperatures rose to record-setting triple-digit highs last week residents tried to stay cool, kept an eye out for wildfire, and wondered how the local power grids were handling the load.
Early Tuesday afternoon, June 29, temperatures at points in Okanogan and Douglas counties were all well above 100 degrees as noted in the first column of numbers. The second column shows the maximum readings on Wednesday, June 30.
Omak         110 – 116+
Okanogan     109 - 111+
Bridgeport    109 - 113
Brewster     108 – 111+
Pateros        107 – 116
Mansfield    107 - 106
Malott         107 – 114
Utilities cope
The Okanogan PUD posted a statement on its Facebook site to assure users that the utility was handling the higher energy demand:
“We are getting a lot of questions, so wanted to let you all know that Okanogan PUD's system can handle the demand right now,” said the post. “We might hit a SUMMER peak record, but our WINTER peak record is far beyond what we are experiencing this week. Barring any major catastrophic events, our system can handle the demand, unlike several other utilities in the region. Cooling centers are open at libraries and community centers, or you can visit a store or other place with great A/C if you need to get out of the heat.”

North Central Washington Libraries Public Relations Specialist Michelle McNiel echoed the PUD’s advisory that its libraries are open to help customers remain cool:
“NCW Libraries branches in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties are serving as cooling centers during the current heat wave,” McNiel said. “Anyone who needs to escape the heat is invited to browse books and movies, read and relax, use public computers and connect to wifi — and stay as long as they need during the normal hours of operation at libraries.”

Sources at Nespelem Valley Electric reported no problems or anticipated power rationing there despite damage to its infrastructure from last fall’s Cole Spring wildfire.

Douglas County PUD had no problems with service demands with its highest peaks coming during the winter months.

“We did make a new summer peak this year with the previous being August 2019 at 169 MW,” said Public Information Officer Meaghan Vibbert. “Sunday the 27th was 179MW, Monday 183MW and forecast for Tuesday was 192MW.”

Burn bans

The record temperatures came hand-in-glove with bad timing just before the July 4 weekend when fireworks spot fires keep fire departments in the Quad Cities busy. Bridgeport Mayor Janet Conklin cautioned residents to be especially vigilant during the extra hot and dry conditions this year as the city continues to recover from the devastation of last fall’s Pearl Hill wildfire.

Last year a brush fire ignited by an errant firework burned briefly in the juniper bushes along the north side of State Route 97 before it was quickly contained by the Pateros volunteer firefighters. That was enough for the city to remove the entire corridor of brush between SR97 and Warren Avenue as a fire prevention measure.

Both Douglas and Okanogan counties announced burn bans last month and the Department of Natural Resources issued a statewide ban on its lands July 1.  DNR sources documented more than 550 fires already this year, more than 90 percent man caused. That number is well ahead of 2020 at the same point, and 2020 was particularly destructive in both counties with the Cole Spring and Pearl Hill fires last September.

Fireworks were banned in unincorporated Okanogan County and on the Colville Reservation on July 1, with many cities in the county following suit.

Last Friday, July 2, smoke from British Columbia wildfires was visible drifting over Okanogan County.

Of course, The Quad is always cool reading even in the hottest weather.