St. Helena, Calif. September 19, 2018 – The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 11 PM this evening to 5 PM Thursday.

In response to the Red Flag event, CAL FIRE has implemented a staffing pattern to augment firefighting resources. Locally that will mean a pre-positioned Strike Team of CAL FIRE engines from outside the Unit and all hand crews and bulldozers will be staffed 24 hours a day. Northerly winds will increase this evening through Thursday afternoon, peaking early tomorrow morning reaching approximately 35 miles per hour. The combination of gusty winds, low humidity, and very dry fuels will result in critical fire weather conditions.

CAL FIRE Unit Chief Shana Jones asks that outdoor power equipment not be used until the Red Flag event has ended and even then, use as early in the day as possible to avoid the increased burning conditions during the heat of the day. Approximately 11% of the fires in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit are caused by individuals using equipment in and around dry vegetation.

To learn about what steps, you can take to be ready visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Prepare-For-Wildfire/