LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service in San Francisco in effect for Lake County through Thursday evening, Cal Fire said it has fire personnel and equipment at the ready.
The National Weather Service said a red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly because of a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
The red flag warning for Lake and several of its neighboring counties went into effect late Wednesday night and, overnight, there were no reports of wildland fire incidents in Lake County, based on radio reports.
The warning is set to remain in place until 7 p.m. Thursday.
Northerly winds are forecast to increase through Thursday afternoon, peaking early Thursday morning at about 25 miles per hour. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s.
In response to the red flag warning, Cal Fire reported that it has prepositioned a strike team of Cal Fire engines from outside the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and all hand crews and bulldozers will be staffed 24 hours a day.
Cal Fire Unit Chief Shana Jones asked that community members not use outdoor power equipment until the red flag event has ended and, even then, she urged they be used as early in the day as possible to avoid the increased burning conditions during the heat of the day.
Officials said approximately 11 percent of the fires in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit are caused by individuals using equipment in and around dry vegetation.
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Fire personnel on alert due to red flag warning
- Elizabeth Larson
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