Update: PG&E outages pared back but Berkeley still wants residents to be on high alert and be ready to evacuate
The combination of strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation makes for extremely dangerous conditions, city officials said.
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In brief
‘A 20-year wind event’ will hit the Bay Area on Sunday, prompting the closure of 11 parks
The Park District will close 11 local parks from Sunday through Monday due to high winds and wildfire danger.
Barriers go up along Grizzly Peak to cut down fire risk in Berkeley, Oakland
Crowds often gather in the popular turnouts and some people are setting off firecrackers.
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In brief
Air quality alert issued for Alameda County as wildfires bring in smoke into Bay Area
A red flag warning has been issued for the Berkeley Hills and several other Bay Area regions from 1 p.m. Thursday to Saturday at 6 a.m.
In brief
Red flag warning for Berkeley Hills now extended to 9 p.m. Monday
A red flag warning is in effect from Saturday night through Monday morning. Review evacuation routes, park off-street, pack a go-bag and sign up for emergency alerts.
Obi Kaufmann delivers a message of hope — and resilience — in his new field atlas on California’s forests
‘The Forests of California’ is a gorgeously illustrated book featuring Kaufmann’s watercolors. It is also a primer on how to approach nature.
Fireworks, ‘dangerous activity’ at Grizzly Peak has to end, residents say
The concerns are at an all-time high during a historically destructive fire season.
Wildfire smoke may not leave Berkeley for another week — maybe longer
Experts say hazy skies and poor air quality will continue if slow winds are unable to disperse the smoke and ash coming from dozens of wildfires.
Poor Berkeley air quality from wildfires could improve by Monday
Smoke from multiple Northern California wildfires is mixing with the marine layer in the Bay Area, creating thick smog and blocking the sun. An air quality advisory is in effect in Alameda County.
‘Orange is the new bleak’ — Photos of Berkeley when day became night
The ominous, apocalyptic skies that greeted Berkeley today, caused by smoke from the August Complex fires, was captured by many in eerie, almost unbelievable photographs.
It’s not the end of the world, despite appearances to the contrary in Berkeley
Yes, day is night, but, as we reported yesterday, the ominous orange sky is caused by smoke from the August Complex fires and, amazingly, the air quality is pretty good.
In brief
Why isn’t Berkeley air quality impacted by red, smoky skies today?
Strong winds are pushing smoke from the August Complex fires about 5,000 feet up in the air through a process called “turbulent mixing.” It has to be at about ground level to affect the air quality.
