Officials: Northwest heat may have killed 1; ER visits spike

By GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials are investigating one possible heat-related death in Oregon from a Pacific Northwest heat wave. Emergency room visits for heat-related illness also have risen sharply as sweltering temperatures gripped the normally temperate Pacific Northwest for the second time this summer. Hot weather and wildfire smoke will pose a problem through the weekend, but a smoky haze from fires around the region kept forecast temperatures lower than expected Friday. Portland was forecast to see a third day of 100-degree weather, but topped out at 95 degrees Friday afternoon. Seattle reached 88 degrees.