Firefighters on alert today

<p>Another clear, hot day was due Wednesday and firefighters remained on alert after Tuesday’s run of fires from one end of Sonoma County to the other.</p><p>Santa Rosa should again get into the low 90s with similar temperatures expected around the North Bay.</p><p>“If there is a “start” somewhere, we’ll just hit it hard, hit it fast, and be quick to order additional resources” if needed, said Santa Rosa Battalion Chief Jack Piccinini early Wednesday.</p><p>A red flag warning issued for wind in the hills in the last several days was expected to expire this morning as the winds were due to die down.</p><p>The warning is an alert for firefighters and departments that high temperature plus low humidity plus dry winds could mean high fire dangers and to staff accordingly.</p><p>It’s not expected to be extended, but that can change as quickly as the wind.</p><p>“In the next 4-5 days there’s a chance for the red flag warning, especially if the winds pick up,” said Brian Tentinger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.</p><p>For the remainder of this week the heat is expected to continue in the 90s, at least through Thursday, and then drop into the 80s through the weekend, Tentinger said.</p><p>Regardless of a red flag warning or not, firefighters remain ready, Piccinini said.</p><p>“No winds in the hills, but it’ll be plenty hot. If we get our standard coastal breeze, that can push a fire pretty good anyway,” Piccinini said.</p><p>Tuesday, fire burned an old log cabin on the Mountain Home Ranch, north of Santa Rosa. Early Tuesday afternoon, near Rohnert Park, a blaze burned a ranch on Stony Point Road. </p><p>It burned a house, cottage, two barns and outbuildings.</p>