Red Flag Warning Issued For Parts Of Bay Area And Northern California As Fire Danger Increases

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for portions of the Bay Area and Northern California as hot temperatures, gusty winds, and extremely low humidity create dangerous wildfire conditions through Thursday. The warning covers the North Bay interior mountains and East Bay hills, while separate fire weather alerts are in effect across the Sacramento Valley and surrounding inland areas. Forecasters say northerly winds could gust above 45 mph in some locations, while humidity levels are expected to drop below 20% overnight and potentially below 10% during the day. These conditions can allow even a small spark to quickly ignite and spread a wildfire.

The warning comes as temperatures climb into the upper 90s and triple digits across inland Northern California, including parts of the East Bay. Fire officials are urging residents to avoid activities that could start a fire, including outdoor burning, using equipment that creates sparks, or parking vehicles on dry grass. The heightened fire danger also has PG&E considering Public Safety Power Shutoffs for thousands of customers in several Northern California counties to reduce the risk of power-line-related fires. Officials are reminding residents to stay alert, have an evacuation plan ready, and report any signs of smoke or fire immediately as California enters what is expected to be an active wildfire season.