NEVADA CITY, Calif. October 13, 2017 – Tahoe National Forest firefighters will maintain 24-hour coverage through Saturday in anticipation of a forecasted Red Flag Warning. The National Weather Service issued the Red Flag Warning for parts of Northern California, including the Tahoe National Forest, due to dry, gusty north winds expected tonight into Saturday.
“High winds and low relative humidity are predicted through Saturday and we will be staffing appropriately,” said Shelly Allen, Fire Management Officer for the Tahoe National Forest.
This Red Flag Warning comes on the heels of recent gusty wind conditions that contributed to catastrophic fires in Grass Valley, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and other parts of California. Many Tahoe National Forest firefighters and resources are assisting with those large fires.
Forest visitors are encouraged to be extra careful with campfires this weekend. If windy conditions blow sparks and embers out of your campfire, consider putting out the fire or reducing it to a manageable size to prevent wildfires. Never leave campfires or lit lanterns and stoves unattended, ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before going to bed or leaving the area and make sure equipment and off-road vehicles have working spark arresters. Other wildfire prevention practices can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/fire-aviation/prevention.