The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for the East Bay Hills, including those in Berkeley, effective from Wednesday at 11 a.m. through Thursday at 9 a.m.
The warning, announced Tuesday morning, highlights extreme fire behavior and rapid fire spread potential on both new and existing wildfires. Officials warn that wildfires can start easily and spread rapidly, urging residents to prepare a go bag for potential evacuations, avoid outdoor activities that could create sparks, and stay aware of changing conditions.
The city of Berkeley issued its own AC Alert just before 2:50 p.m., noting that winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour, combined with humidity levels between 12 and 18 percent, create conditions conducive to quick ignition and fire spread. Residents in high-risk areas are advised to prepare for evacuation.
The city emphasized that Red Flag warnings are early indicators of increased wildfire risk, issued when strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation combine to create dangerous fire conditions.
Officials urge residents to identify their evacuation zone in Berkeley to learn how best to respond during an emergency. On Tuesday, the city identified the following Berkeley zones as high risk: BER-003 through BER-010, BER-012, BER-015 through BER-020, BER-028 through BER-033, BER-040, BER-057, BER-058, BER-066, and BER-076 through BER-078.
Residents can find their zone on the Berkeley emergency map.
The National Weather Service also provided fire weather safety tips, including never leaving burning debris or campfires unattended, extinguishing them completely, avoiding equipment or machinery that could create sparks, securing tow chains to prevent dragging and sparks, and never tossing cigarette butts out of vehicle windows. The message is clear: one less spark, one less flame.
A recent study on Berkeley disasters emphasized that early evacuation is key. Retired Councilwoman Susan Wengraf stated, "Early evacuation is the best course of action. The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be."