Fire danger weather prompts Bay Area fire crew mobilization; road, park closures in effect
Cal OES is sending teams to Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, as well as Santa Cruz, Tehama, Lake, Tuolumne and Glenn counties.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for much of the region starting at 11 p.m. Thursday because of dangerous conditions, including low humidity and winds of 25-35 mph with isolated gusts of up to 65 mph in higher elevations.
The warning is in effect until 5 p.m. Saturday.
According to a social media post from the Alameda County Fire Department, crews will be deployed in the county from 8 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Saturday and a spokesperson said a strike team, including Fremont fire personnel, was meeting up in Castro Valley Thursday morning.
The crews consist of various types of equipment and specialists, including extra dispatchers, water tankers, fire trucks, hand crews, command staff and bulldozers for the duration of the weather event.
People are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts , pack a "go bag" with essential items in case of evacuations, make an emergency plan and map out multiple emergency routes out of their area.
During the Red Flag Warning, PG&E is warning that up to 28,000 customers across several counties may have their power shut off for safety reasons starting Thursday.
East Bay road, park closuresThe cities of Berkeley and Oakland are coordinating to close down a popular corridor in the East Bay hills overnight Thursday, as dangerous fire weather settles over the region.
Grizzly Peak Boulevard will be closed between Skyline Boulevard and Centennial Drive from 9:30 p.m. Thursday to noon on Friday, Oakland fire officials said.
The closure is similar to steps taken on July 4th holidays, when fire danger high and crews need to be able to navigate the narrow hillside route during fires and emergencies.
Electronic signs and employees from the two cities will be stationed at intersections to prevent through traffic.
During the closure, only residents, ride-share vehicles, and delivery vehicles will be allowed through the closed section.
The closure locations are Grizzly Peak between Skyline Boulevard and Centennial Drive.
Additionally, the following intersections will have electronic signs or personnel on hand to prevent thru traffic from entering: Grizzly Peak and Centennial Drive; Grizzly Peak and S .Park Drive; Grizzly Peak and Lomas Cantada; Grizzly Peak and Claremont; Grizzly Peak and Skyline.
"A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert," said Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington. "During these times, we expand our staffing capacity, enhance regional coordination, and urge residents to exercise extreme caution, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire."
Oakland fire officials said the department plans to upstaff two Type 3 Engines, and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services has also prepositioned five engine companies in strategic locations throughout the Alameda County.
Oakland fire officials also noted that Joaquin Miller Park is closed on all Red Flag Days. The park closure will be lifted once the Red Flag conditions have subsided and the National Weather Service has lifted the warning for the regional area.
