Union City Residents: Keep An Eye Out For Flying Red Flags

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — The Alameda County Fire Department will soon launch a red flag warning system to notify residents that weather conditions are ripe for wildfire.

Red flags that read "Fire Weather" will be flown beneath the American flag at Alameda County Fire stations during periods of hazardous fire conditions, the department announced Monday. They will not be flown when flags are ordered to be flown at half-staff, which means no other flags except the United States flag should be flown.

Firefighters hope the flags will remind residents that they should refrain from actions that could accidentally spark wildfires, such as:

• skipping yardwork that involves combustion engines;
• being careful when discarding smoking items;
• not driving or parking on grassy areas; and
• being careful when cooking on a charcoal fire.

The new protocol was developed with support from Cal Fire and East Bay Regional Parks firefighters.

Alameda County Fire operates dozens of facilities across the region, including in Union City. Find your nearest station here.