Woodacre, CA – With gusty dry winds forecast for the North Bay hills, the Marin County Fire Department has increased its staffing and is urging the public to be extra cautious because of critical wildfire conditions.
A file photo of a wildfire in the Roys Redwoods Open Space Preserve in the San Geronimo Valley, October 2014.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Marin County because of strong and gusty offshore winds of up to 25 mph starting Saturday. Gusts were expected as high as 45 mph after midnight, and winds were expected to be remaining strong through Sunday morning.
Marin County Fire has responded by staffing additional firefighters and has engines, bulldozers and fire crews available. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known commonly as CALFIRE, has strategically staffed additional resources for Northern California.
The warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Saturday through 3 p.m. Sunday. It was issued because of a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and hot temperatures – all of which contribute to extreme fire behavior.
“Marin County Fire urges everyone to exercise extreme caution when in or near the wildland or open areas to prevent sparking a fire,” said Jason Weber, Marin County Fire Chief. “We have extra firefighters and equipment available to respond to new wildfires during this wind event, but we are reminding residents to be extremely cautious while outdoors in order to help prevent sparking a wildfire.”
Remember: “One Less Spark Means One Less Wildfire.” For more ways to help prevent and prepare for wildfires, check ReadyForWildfire.org.