Possible thunderstorms put Portland area on the lookout for fire

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a fire weather watch for the area as the chance for thunderstorms looms.

The fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecasted to occur, and the watch will remain in effect from Tuesday afternoon, July 16, until Wednesday evening, July 17, a press release stated. The watch covers fire zones 684, 686 and 688, which encompass the majority of the Portland metro area.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, which can cause fires when lightning ignites dry materials. Winds from the storm can then cause the fire to spread quickly and erratically.

The National Weather Service encourages people to pay attention to the forecast and listen for possible red flag warnings, which means that the conditions for fires to break out are present or imminent.