Fire Weather and Evacuation

Check and sign up for emergency alerts

Get real-time wildfire evacuation alerts with the City’s tools:

• Berkeley Emergency Map: See current evacuation orders on the emergency map and download the Genasys Protect app to get real-time alerts on your phone
• AC Alert (Alameda County Alert): View recent messages and sign up to receive detailed alerts via phone and email

Learn more about official alerting tools on our Emergency Notifications page.

leave as early as possible

The safest thing you can do during a wildfire is leave early. 

• If you live in the Berkeley Hills, leave before a fire starts—when the Fire Department declares Extreme Fire Weather. Low humidity and strong winds make this weather the most dangerous for fires.
• If you live outside the Hills, leave as soon as you get an evacuation warning or order, or if you ever feel unsafe.

Leaving early reduces your risk and helps you avoid traffic. People who leave sooner get to safety faster. 

make a household fire weather plan

Planning ahead helps you evacuate faster and more safely. Use our step-by-step guide to create your Household Fire Weather Plan. 

Plan when you will leave

Decide with your household when you will leave—before a fire or after it starts. Be prepared to act when you receive emergency alerts for each of the situations listed below.

Before a fire

Some weather conditions make wildfire more likely. During either of the below alert levels, everyone should keep their phone on and avoid anything that could cause sparks (such as outdoor grills or chainsaws).

• Red Flag Warning: Strong winds and low humidity increase fire risk. Be ready to evacuate.
• Extreme Fire Weather: Very high winds and very low humidity make fire more likely and more dangerous. If you live in the Hills, the Berkeley Fire Department recommends you leave before extreme fire weather begins.

After a fire starts

Once a fire has started, officials will send alerts about danger in your area.

• Evacuation Warning: There may be a threat to life and property. Get ready to leave. If you have kids, pets, mobility issues, or any other factors that would make it hard to get out quickly, you should leave now.
• Evacuation Order: There is an immediate life safety threat in your area, like a fire. This is a lawful order and everyone must leave immediately.

Plan where you will go

Pick a few safe places you could go during an emergency, including places outside of Berkeley. Consider:

• A friend’s or family member’s home
• A hotel (Visit Berkeley can help you find one)

If there is a fire, emergency shelters will be opened in safe areas. They may be outside of Berkeley.

Plan your route

Plan at least two ways out of your neighborhood and be flexible. In an evacuation, you may need to use any road that’s open.

If you don’t drive, ask a neighbor now if they can help. If you have a car, reach out to neighbors about carpooling during an emergency.

In a large evacuation, roads may be blocked or unsafe to travel. Emergency transportation and people you rely on may not be able to reach you. Your neighbors will be in the best position to be able to help you.

Avoid walking or biking if you can. Cars provide better protection against fire and traffic collisions. If you must walk or bike, leave early—when the Berkeley Fire Department declares Extreme Fire Weather.

What to pack

Have a go-bag ready in case you only have minutes to leave. 

Pack essentials like: Flashlight, wallet, phone, map, water bottle, medication, important documents, sturdy shoes and socks, and any other items your household needs to stay safe.

Coordinate with household, neighbors

Plan ahead for anyone in your home who may need help to pack and evacuate—like children, older adults, or pets.

Make a backup plan in case normal helpers are not home when an evacuation is ordered. Work with neighbors to help each other pack and carpool out.

Never return to an evacuation zone. People have died trying to go back for others or belongings.

Never wait for someone to return home before evacuating. Make a plan now for where to meet and how to communicate if separated.

If your household is evacuating and you have children in school outside the evacuation zone, ask someone to pick them up and take them to a safe location. This can help your family evacuate faster. 

sign up for a training

Get hands-on support with creating your household evacuation plan by attending a training from Berkeley Ready, our emergency preparedness team. Visit our Eventbrite page for upcoming trainings and click follow to get notified when new courses are posted.

Sign up for the Berkeley Ready newsletter for email updates about disaster readiness classes and events.

Berkeley's recommendations based on research 

The Berkeley Fire Department’s recommendation to leave during Extreme Fire Weather is based on research and past fires. The 1991 Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire—and many recent major fires in California—started during similar weather.

Extreme Fire Weather means very high winds and very low humidity. These conditions make fires more likely and more dangerous.

Berkeley’s evacuation instructions use findings from the 2025 Evacuation Time Study. Learn more about evacuations in Berkeley by visiting the Evacuation StoryMaps or downloading the Evacuation Time Study.

Berkeley also performed an analysis to comply with State evacuation planning requirements. Download the Access Impaired Neighborhoods Analysis and the Evacuation Route Safety, Capacity, and Viability Analysis to learn more.