Offshore winds forecast to combine with high temperatures through the weekend are raising wildfire risk across the East Bay hills, the National Weather Service warned, just weeks after a string of fires burned more than 1,100 acres in the greater Tri-Valley.
The NWS is forecasting elevated temperatures for the latter half of the week that could pair with offshore wind events to push fire danger higher through the weekend, according to Local News Matters.
The warning follows a heat advisory the agency issued for Monday, Aug. 3, covering the East Bay hills and valleys, East Bay interior valleys, Eastern Santa Clara Hills, North Bay interior mountains, and Santa Clara Valley. That advisory, valid from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, warned of highs between 95 and 105 degrees, according to the East Bay Times.
The NWS cautioned that the heat level affects most people sensitive to heat, particularly those without effective cooling or adequate hydration, with possible impacts to health systems and heat-sensitive industries.
Recent fires add urgency
The fire danger forecast arrives less than three weeks after the 51-acre Morgan Fire near Mount Diablo. That blaze ignited July 17 near the intersection of Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek roads, close to the popular North Peak trailhead. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire deployed 242 personnel, 23 engines, 11 hand crews, and two helicopters at the fire's peak. One firefighter suffered a minor injury. The fire is now 100% contained, and no structures were damaged.
The Morgan Fire was the first in a string of six wildfires across the greater Tri-Valley in just over a week, including the 1,007-acre Little Fire near Sunol-Pleasanton on July 21 and the 132-acre Mines Fire near Livermore on July 26.
Cal Fire's Marcus Hernandez, unit chief for the Santa Clara Unit, said during the Morgan Fire response on July 18: "We likely won't reach 100% containment today, but we're pretty confident that we'll keep the fire within the footprint it is now at that 51 acres."
What residents should do
The NWS Bay Area office posted on X on Monday, Aug. 3, urging residents to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
About 95% of all wildfires in California are caused by people, according to the Contra Costa County Wildfire Preparedness Guide. During a Red Flag Warning, the county fire district deploys pre-positioned strike teams to monitor high-risk wildland-urban interface areas. No formal Red Flag Warning has been issued for this week, but the NWS fire danger forecast warrants caution for residents near open space.
Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the Contra Costa County Community Warning System at cwsalerts.com or by calling 925-655-0111. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District posts updates at cccfpd.org and on X at @ContraCostaFire.
