A fire weather watch will go into effect Saturday afternoon for the east slopes of the Cascades and most of the Deschutes National Forest, according to the National Weather Service. This means dry and breezy conditions could make conditions favorable for a wildfire to start and grow quickly in size.

The fire weather watch will be in effect until Saturday evening, according to Katy Branham, warning coordination meteorologist for the  Pendleton office. 

Those in the area should take extra precautions with any activity that can create a spark, said Branham.

“For the public it’s an awareness for if they’re considering burning trash piles or setting off fireworks or anything else of that kind  … to monitor those conditions to make sure they’re not taking more risk,” Branham said.

That includes driving and parking over dry grass, dragging chains or throwing a burning cigarette out the window.

In the past couple weeks, grasses have been drying out in the hot weather, said Jaimie Olle, public information officer for Central Oregon Fire Management Service, an interagency fire management organization.

Public use restrictions are in effect, said Olle, which means campfires are only allowed in designated developed areas and Deschutes National Forest wilderness areas.

For those with campfires in designated areas, such as campgrounds, Olle said, be sure they are fully extinguished and never left unattended.

Hot weather in the low 100s will continue into next week, and those in the area should continue monitoring temperatures, said Branham.

Central Oregon remains under a heat advisory through Thursday with afternoon temperatures ranging from 95 to 110 degrees and morning temperatures ranging from the mid 50s to upper 60s.

Record-breaking temperatures are predicted to hit Central Oregon after Fourth of July with thermometers hitting the low 100s, and above-normal temperatures lingering as long as the next two weeks.