source: City of Berkeley
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Berkeley uses very specific vocabulary to define fire weather, explained in detail in the City’s Fire Weather and Evacuation Page. It is important for your safety that you understand exactly what they mean.
What the City says:
"Red Flag Warning: The National Weather Service declares a “Red Flag Warning” when low humidity and high winds combine for elevated fire risk.
During a Red Flag Warning, keep your phone on and with you at all times, avoid any activities that could cause a spark, and be prepared to rapidly evacuate if necessary.
Extreme Fire Weather The Berkeley Fire Department declares “Extreme Fire Weather”—a Berkeley-specific designation—when forecasted wind speeds and humidity levels during a Red Flag Warning would produce especially risky conditions in Berkeley.
Fires that spread under Extreme Fire Weather conditions can quickly become catastrophic. The Berkeley Fire Department recommends that residents make plans to leave the hills during periods of Extreme Fire Weather.
Extreme Fire Weather is far more rare than Red Flag Warnings. In 2020, Berkeley had 25 days of Red Flag Warnings and only 2 days of Extreme Fire Weather. Yet this narrow range of weather conditions is when the most destructive fires happen."
If you live in Fire Zone 2 or 3 (the Berkeley hills),the Berkeley Fire Department recommends that you leave before Extreme Fire Weather conditions start and until those conditions subside.
Don’t forget to read the City’s Fire Weather and Evacuation Page.