Wind gusts up to 40 mph and humidity as low as 15% will create critical fire conditions across Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park starting Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of the Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills. The warning takes effect at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, and runs through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
The NWS said the conditions could lead to easier fire starts and rapid spread of any fires that develop. The warning follows a wind advisory issued Friday for overnight gusts in the Sacramento Valley.
What to expect
North to northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph are forecast, with gusts reaching 30 to 40 mph. The strongest winds are expected Sunday morning. The NWS said the highest wind potential will be along and west of the I-5 corridor.
Daytime relative humidity is forecast to drop to between 15 and 25%, according to the NWS alert. The combination means any fires that start will spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
How to prepare
The NWS advised residents to have an emergency plan ready and to follow any local burn bans and evacuation orders if issued. No county burn ban specific to this warning period has been confirmed as of Saturday, Oct. 10.
El Dorado County residents in El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park can look up their evacuation zone at perimetermap.com/eldoradocounty by entering a home address, according to the county's emergency preparedness handbook. Residents can also sign up for emergency alerts covering fires, weather and evacuation guidance at ready.edso.org.
Key local contacts:
- El Dorado Hills Fire Department: (916) 933-6623, online at edhfire.com
- Cameron Park Fire Department: (530) 677-6190, online at cameronpark.org/fire-emergency
- El Dorado County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services: (530) 621-5895, online at ready.edso.org
The Red Flag Warning expires at 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12. No extended fire weather watch has been issued beyond that window.
