Warning: Bay Area fire departments are preparing for the “most dangerous point of fire season.”

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for much of the Bay Area from Thursday night through Saturday evening as dry and windy conditions pose the risk of rapid spread of wildfires.

Meteorologists said areas expected to experience particularly windy conditions and low humidity include the interior mountains of the North Bay, the East Bay hills and the Diablo Range, and the San Francisco Peninsula, among others.

SCHEDULE: Light rain tomorrow ahead of a Red Flag Warning of High Fire Danger later this week

“Historically, this is our most dangerous point-of-fire season,” said Oakland Battalion Chief Anthony Sanders.

There have been a few fires so far this year, but nothing has gotten out of control in the East Bay Hills. However, due to the worrisome combination of gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures expected late Thursday, fire crews are on high alert due to the fire weather watch, which has now become a red flag warning.

“Now that we have offshore winds and the fuel has already dried out, we are concerned about the wind patterns and the dry vegetation that we have,” said Chief Sanders.

The recent heatwave hasn’t helped.

“We are preparing tomorrow based on the results of the local weather forecast. Depending on the results, this may result in an increase in staffing on our part and community messaging,” said Berkeley Fire Chief David Sprague. “We do not expect people to be asked to leave the mountains early, which is what we would ask on days of the most extreme fire weather.”

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“I know there are discussions at the district level about preparing assault teams. We run them centrally in the county – typically in the Dublin-Pleasanton area so we can send those resources as soon as something happens,” said Chief Sanders.

Oakland Fire is actively increasing its workforce with additional locomotives and personnel in the mountains.

Fire officials are asking people to sign up for alerts and have evacuation plans made in advance. From Thursday they are urging extreme caution.

“During this time, be careful with grills, idling cars and anything that generates heat,” said Chief Sprague.

Now PG& E warns that power shutoffs are possible across much of the Bay Area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday amid concerns that wind could spark fires.

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