Evacuation Planning for Fire Weather and Wildfire 

Emergency Alerts

Sign up for alerts to be notified about fire weather and so you can act quickly if your area needs to evacuate.

MAKE A BASIC EVACUATION PLAN

All Berkeley residents should have a basic evacuation plan. Make your basic evacuation plan using our Evacuation Planning Worksheets.

KNOW YOUR FIRE RISK AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY

Residents in the Berkeley hills face the highest wildfire and evacuation risk. 

Use this tool to learn if you live in a high-risk zone and to get instructions for extreme fire weather.

KNOW WHEN FIRE DANGER IS HIGHEST

Catastrophic wildfires need the very dry and windy weather to ignite and spread. Pay attention to the weather so you know when wildfire risk is high and it is time to put your plans into action. 

Residents who are subscribed to AC Alert notifications from the City of Berkeley will receive two types of fire weather alerts:

1. Red Flag Warning - Issued by the National Weather Service when fire weather is in the forecast in the East Bay.  

2. Extreme Fire Weather -  Issued by the Berkeley Fire Department when wildfire danger is at its highest. These alerts are rare and are only issued when there is strong confidence that dangerous fire weather will affect Berkeley. If a fire starts during Extreme Fire Weather, it may spread faster than people can safely evacuate from the Berkeley hills. 

The chart below shows approximate wind and humidity levels during Red Flag Warnings and Extreme Fire Weather. California’s most deadly wildfires, including the 1991 Oakland/Berkeley Hills Fire, occurred during Extreme Fire Weather. This is why households in high-risk areas need plans for Red Flag Warnings and Extreme Fire Weather.  

HIGH-RISK ZONES: MAKE A FIRE WEATHER PLAN

Residents in the high-risk zones can plan to stay safe during a Red Flag Warning and Extreme Fire Weather using the Fire Weather Planning Worksheets. 

Red Flag Warning

In a Red Flag Warning, fire danger is increased. Residents in all the high-risk zones should take a few extra steps to be ready for a fire evacuation:  

1. Be signed up and keep your phone on to receive alerts

2. Back your cars into your driveway

3. Keep a go-bag by the door

Extreme Fire Weather

Extreme Fire Weather is rare and exceptionally dangerous. If a fire starts during these conditions, it may spread faster than people in high-risk areas can safely evacuate. When Extreme Fire Weather is forecast, it is not a normal day. Residents in high-risk areas should make preparedness their priority. 

Recommended actions for Extreme Fire Weather depend on which high-risk zone you live in: 

Leave before a fire starts - Residents in Leave Early Zones should leave before a fire starts and stay elsewhere.  

Be ready to evacuate very quickly - Residents in Get Ready Zones should be ready to evacuate very quickly. Pack a vehicle, monitor alerts, and check in with neighbors to help each other:  

Residents in Get Ready Zones should consider leaving early during Extreme Fire Weather if any of the following apply: 

1. Your street has only one way in or out 

2. Your household needs help from people outside your neighborhood to pack and leave 

3. Your household would plan to evacuate the Berkeley hills on bike or foot 

4. Your household prefers not to be caught in an emergency evacuation 

MAKE A WILDFIRE EVACUATION PLAN

Extreme Fire Weather causes catastrophic wildfires. Less severe conditions can also produce dangerous fires. Residents in high-risk zones can plan how to evacuate if officials order you to leave with little or no time to prepare. Use the Wildfire Evacuation Planning Worksheet to help you. 

WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS 

Talk with your neighbors - Preparedness is best done with your neighbors, not on your own. Talk with your neighbors about fire weather and evacuation plans including opportunities to carpool.

Use our guidance and tools on meeting your neighbors and forming a neighborhood group.