Some days are more fire-prone than others.
Let’s talk about “red flag warnings.” No, not the kind to watch out for on a first date—the ones from the National Weather Service (NWS), which is the only organization with the authority to issue them.
An NWS red flag warning kicks off a 24-hour period during which temperatures, humidity, vegetation moisture levels, and winds pose a significant risk of fire. These warnings aren’t issued lightly, so it’s important to take notice of them.
You can find red flag warnings for your area by typing your city or zip code into the California Fire Weather web page or the Sacramento Area National Weather Service office.
Red flag conditions to watch out for
NWS relies on sophisticated monitoring to determine red flag warnings, but being able to recognize changes that might lead to a warning can give you extra time to prepare. For instance, if you notice a day has gotten particularly dry and/or windy, check the resources mentioned above to find out if a red flag warning has been issued.
Staying on top of potential warnings helps ensure your family’s safety, giving you an opportunity to confirm your wildfire precautions are in place and reminding you to avoid certain activities while the warning is in effect.
What to avoid during a red flag warning
During a red flag warning, avoid doing anything that could generate sparks, embers, or ambient heat. For instance:
- No mowing: Mower blades rotating at high speeds can easily generate enough heat to ignite flames, or they could come into contact with rocks and emit sparks.
- No grilling: Even if you’re grilling with gas and not charcoal, grilling can lead to flames and embers igniting dried foliage.
- No smoking outside: Don’t give any type of hot ash a chance to make contact with dry foliage.
- No reflecting heat: Shiny objects, such as gazing balls and any other reflective surfaces outside can ignite flames by focusing heat on nearby vegetation.
- No flames, period: For instance, if you have a burn permit and wake up to hot, dry, windy weather, it’s not the day to exercise your permit. And whatever the weather, always check with your local burn and air-quality authorities before burning.
Actions to take during a red flag warning
When conditions are ripe for wildfire, the likelihood of evacuation increases. Here are some ways to prepare:
- Be sure you’re signed up for social media and other alerts from local fire authorities.
- Clear your property of any plant/tree debris, especially in the five-foot “no burn” Zone Zero around your house. Sweep debris manually to avoid fire risk from electric and gas tools.
- Check your vehicle’s gas gauge and go for a fill-up if you need one.
- Make sure everyone in your household, including pets, can be rounded up quickly should the need arise.
- Be sure all of your household’s Go Bags are complete and ready for fast access
One more important point: Don’t panic
Much like the flags on a beach when undertow risks are high, red flag warnings are cautionary in nature. They don’t mean a fire is imminent, but weather conditions are more fire-friendly than usual.
Since you’re already keeping up with information from Be Ready, Butte!, odds are you’re prepared for the likelihood of fire. Still, red flag warnings can remind even the best-prepared homeowners to make sure their efforts are up to date.
Use the Be Ready, Butte! seasonal checklists and other resources to check your family’s preparedness for red flag warnings.