Red Flag Warning For Napa Co., North Bay Hills In Effect

NAPA COUNTY, CA -- A red flag fire warning -- the highest alert -- is in effect Friday for elevations above 1,000 feet in the North Bay hills and elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. The alert is in effect until 8 a.m. Saturday, weather service officials said.

When red flag warnings are in effect, all residents are urged to use extreme caution because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.

According to the NWS, the affected fire weather zones include the North and East Bay Hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Diablo Range, the Santa Lucia Range, and the interior mountains of Monterey and San Benito Counties.

Combined conditions including wind, high temperatures and low humidity mean that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly, weather officials said.

Outdoor burning is not recommended and weather service officials cautioned residents not to mow or trim dry grass, to be sure there is 100 feet of space around structures that is clear of combustible materials, also known as defensible space, and to clear dead weeds and vegetation.

Also, people should never pull over their vehicles in dry grass, according to the weather service.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Image via National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area