FIRESafe MARIN News

Marin County, CA.  June 7, 2019 -- The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the North Bay Mountains and other parts of the Bay Area above 1000 feet, which is in effect from 9 PM this evening (Friday) to 5 PM Sunday. 

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected during this time frame with a combination of strong off shore winds with gusts to 40-50 miles per hour and low relative humidity ranging from 12-22% percent.

FIRESafe MARIN is honored to welcome the following new Firewise USA "sites" into Marin's growing list of nationally recognized neighborhoods!

• Manor Hill (Fairfax)
• Hidden Valley (Corte Madera)
• Loch Lomond Highlands HOA (San Rafael)
• Sunny Oaks/Bayhills (San Rafael)
• Paradise Ranch Estates (Inverness)
• Lower Edgewood (Mill Valley)
• Bald Hill (San Anselmo)
• Alto Sutton Neighborhood (Mill Valley)
• Los Robles Mobile Home Park (San Rafael)
• Deer Park (Fairfax - coming soon!)
• Glenwood (San Rafael - coming soon!)

Marin County s the fastest growing county in the nation for participation in the Firewise USA recognition program.  These neighborhoods enjoy the benefits of living in a safer environment, with tangibles like insurance discounts and a greater sense of community.  Is your neighborhood interested in joining this valuable program?  Learn more at www.firesafemarin.org/firewise.

San Anselmo, CA, - May 1, 2019: As California expands efforts to prevent devastating wildfires, CAL FIRE announced on April 16 over $43 million in grants awarded to 66 local fire prevention projects across the state.  In Marin county, FIRESafe MARIN was selected to receive $993,500 to help fund a $1.3 million project aimed at improving the safety of evacuation routes in seven central Marin communities.

The grant provides funding to seven hillside neighborhoods along the eastern slopes of Mt. Tamalpais.  In order to improve evacuation routes there, vegetation will be reduced along more than 55 miles of roads, improving access and egress, and strategically dispersing fuel reduction over a 3,000-acre geographic area with a long history of wildfires.  The project locations were selected based on priorities identified in the 2017 Marin Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Firesafe Marin's Wildfire Evacuation Guide is a comprehensive and informative resource for wildfire evacuation preparedness in Marin.  With information on alerting and notifications, personal and family safety, and the evacuation process itself, this guide may help you survive even the most catastrophic wildfire.

Learn how to:

Three herds of goats and sheep, totalling 1200 head, are working in Sleepy Hollow, Terra Linda, Lucas Valley, San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Fairfax in 2019 as part of a large-scale fire hazard reduction project spearheaded by local landowners, Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District (SHFPD), Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD), and FIRESafe MARIN. This project is a collaborative effort resulting from the Marin CWPP and 2016 SHFPD Wildfire Hazard and Wildland Urban Interface Area Assessment, which identified key locations for fuel reduction to reduce the impact of wildfires in Marin communities.  By partnering with adjacent local landowners, including Rocking H Ranch, Triple-C Ranch, San Domenico School, MCOSD, Ross Valley School District, and the Towns of San Anselmo and Fairfax, the multi-agency project will strategically reduce hazardous fuels on nearly 500 acres of high-risk grassy woodlands in central Marin.

We Need Your Help!

FIRESafe MARIN is working hard to bring these four legged weed-eaters to more Marin communities in 2019 and beyond.  We need to raise at least $100,000 to bring them to more communities and locations.  You can participate by supporting our Fund-A-Goat program!  Your tax-deductible donation will help bring goats to more backyards and open spaces, and with every donation of $100 or more, you'll get to name a goat!  We'll send a photo of your named goat, with its corresponding number, and invite you on a guided walk to meet the goats and learn more about this important program from our wildfire experts.

You're invited to join FIRESafe MARIN for a Benefit Screening of The Camp Fire Documentary screening May 14, 2019, 6:30PM at CineArts Sequoia Theater in Mill Valley. All funds raised will support survivors of the Camp Fire and FIRESafe MARIN's goat grazing program.

FIRESafe MARIN presents The Camp Fire Documentary, which tells a small part of the story one county experienced during its darkest day. The Camp Fire Documentary is a powerful and moving first person account from individuals and First Responders that battled the inferno that struck Concow, Paradise, Magalia and Chico in Butte County California on November 8, 2018. This documentary was produced by local filmmaker Nancy Hamilton who compiled a substantial portion of her film from people’s cell phone footage of the catastrophic fire.

Please join us May 4, 2019 at 10AM at Embassy Suites in San Rafael for a FREE community presentation and panel discussion on wildfire preparedness, with an introduction to important new efforts that will help make Marin more wildfire resilient.  We'll have tables and booths representing a variety of stakeholders, contractors, and agency representatives of agencies and industries who play a role in Marin's wildfire readiness.

What: Opening with a special guest presentation from a Camp Fire evacuation survivor, the Marin Wildfire Forum will look at prevention and preparedness through a countywide lens. Representatives from local government, fire agencies, land managers, emergency services, law enforcement, community leaders and wildfire experts will update residents on progress to date, work to come, and future needs. Residents will learn what they can do to protect their homes and what we can do together to make Marin as wildfire safe and emergency ready as possible.

Help us "FundAGoat" in Marin! We're working to raise $100,000 to bring goats to Marin communities for wildfire hazard reduction. To Donate: Text "Goat" to 77453 or visit www.ifundahero.com/donations/firesafe-marin. Your donation is tax deductible, and if you donate $100 or more, you'll get to name a goat!

Fund-A-Goat

Grazing is a natural, economical, and sustainable solution to reducing vegetation fuel and wildfire hazards in Marin. In 2018 FIRESafe MARIN helped bring 800 goats and sheep to central Marin where they grazed more than 340 acres of high-risk grass woodlands, clearing 1-2 acres a day of vegetation, including non-native, invasive plants. This approach proved cost effective and gentle on the land, reducing the fuels for fire, restoring native grasslands where firefighters can more easily control fires, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and creating pastoral fuel breaks in the open spaces between communities.  In 2019, with your help, we plan to expand this valuable project to 1200+ goats and nearly 500 acres!

Please join us May 4, 2019 at 10AM at Embassy Suites in San Rafael for a FREE community presentation and panel discussion on wildfire preparedness, with an introduction to important new efforts that will elp make Marin more wildfire resilient.  We'll have tables and booths representing a variety of stakeholders, contractors, and agency representatives of agancies and industries who play a role in Marin's wildfire readiness.

What: Opening with a special guest presentation from a Camp Fire evacuation survivor, the Marin Wildfire Forum will look at prevention and preparedness through a countywide lens. Representatives from local government, fire agencies, land managers, emergency services, law enforcement, community leaders and wildfire experts will update residents on progress to date, work to come, and future needs. Residents will learn what they can do to protect their homes and what we can do together to make Marin as wildfire safe and emergency ready as possible.

FIRESafe MARIN recently added an "events' page to our informative website, listing upcoming events, seminars, workshops, and more.  Take a look at www.firesafemarin.org/events for current and upcoming listings, and check back often. 

Highlights

• Our popular education program has been updated and renamed for 2019.  The new "Living With Fire" seminars will be offered in 30, 60, and 90 minute formats throughout the year, and may require pre-registration for attendance.  Multiple sessions are already online in April and May (Seminars are currently scheduled for April 25, April 29, May 5, May 7).
• Don't miss the May 4 Marin Community Wildfire Forum at Embassy Suites in San Rafael.  This important event should should be on the calendar for all Marin residents concerned about wildfire and who want to learn what your fire departments and public partners are doing to reduce our risk.
• On May 8, the "FIRESTORM: Wildfires and Climate Change " forum will include experts and panelists in a discussion about climate change and its role in driving wildfires.