Sonoma County officials warn of dangerous wildfire season outlook

(KRON) — Sonoma County officials are urging residents to prepare for a high-risk wildfire season. As temperatures rise through the summer and fall, high fuel loads and unfavorable windy weather conditions could combine to create a large wildfire.

County officials wrote, “Sonoma County is expected to experience warmer and drier-than-normal conditions from June through August, with only limited relief from the coastal marine layer.”

Officials said extended periods of dry and high winds will lead to flash drought conditions. Flash droughts, characterized by prolonged periods of high temperatures and strong winds, cause rapid evaporation and drying vegetation.

“We’re entering this fire season with conditions that demand heightened vigilance,” said Lynda Hopkins of the county Board of Supervisors.

Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls with the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said, “The reports clearly show we need to be vigilant and prepared for an increased threat of large wildfires.”

The 2017 Tubbs Fire ravaged Napa and Sonoma counties, destroying more than 5,500 homes and killing 22 people. On October 8, 2017, tens of thousands of people woke up to the sounds of sirens and crackling flames. It was a dark, uncomfortably warm night, met with ferocious winds. People were forced to abandon their homes within minutes. It took four months for firefighters to contain the blaze that blistered 36,000 acres.

The National Weather Service created a new warning level in 2025, known as “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS), to indicate an unusually high risk of severe weather in association with extreme Red Flag Warnings. A PDS warning is used to highlight specific areas most vulnerable during a natural weather event.

Heading into the second half of 2025, community members are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts, maintain defensible space around their homes, and review evacuation routes. You can sign up for alerts and find fire preparedness resources at SoCoEmergency.org.

“We can’t prevent every wildfire, but we as a community can be better prepared to keep ourselves and loved ones safe,” said Jeff DuVall, director of the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management. “We’ve strengthened our alert systems, updated evacuation maps, and are working hard to ensure the public has timely, accurate information when it matters most.”