Woodacre, CA – The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for the North Bay mountains and other parts of the Bay Area. It will be in effect from 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, through 5 p.m. Thursday, October 10.
This event has the potential to be the strongest offshore wind event in the area since the October 2017 North Bay Fires.
A Red Flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected during the stated time frame with a combination of strong offshore winds with gusts to 20-35 mph and low relative humidity ranging from 18-28%.
The affected area includes higher terrain areas of Marin, Napa, Sonoma and East Bay counties.
The concerns of the weekend weather system are that fires that develop likely will spread rapidly. Residents and visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution during the Red Flag warning because a simple spark could cause a major wildfire, including the use of equipment and machinery as well as smoking. The Marin County Fire Department will among the fire agencies watching and listening closely for reports of wildfires.
The following land-use restrictions are in effect for the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County Open Space District preserves, and the Point Reyes National Seashore during the Red Flag conditions.
- Closures at Sky Oaks, Natalie Coffin Green Park (Ross), and Leo Cronin Parking Lot, MMWD
- Mount Vision Road, Inverness (National Park Service)
- All open burning and burn permits are suspended on public lands
- Closures to Mount Tamalpais State Park - Roads north of Panoramic Highway are closed to motor vehicle traffic on Pantoll Road and Ridgecrest Boulevard. All park use permits north of Panoramic Highway are suspended, including filming.
Other useful numbers:
- The Mount Tamalpais State Park information number is 415-388-2070.
- The MMWD information number is 415-945-1195.
- The Marin County Fire Information Hotline number is 415-473-7191.
Defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It provides and important area for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a fire. In fact, California law requires property owners to extend defensible space clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100 feet.
To register for emergency alerts, visit www.alertmarin.org. To learn more about defensible space and preparing for wildfire, visit www.firesafemarin.org.