Marin County Fire Prepares For Next Controlled Burn

CORTE MADERA, CA — The Marin County Fire Department hopes to complete its next prescribed burn in the coming days, improving conditions along the Mount Tamalpais Watershed as the weather allows.

The latest burn is designed to proactively manage fire fuels and help make the surrounding watershed more resilient and healthy. The three-day burn will happen around the Rock Spring Trailhead, near the Ridgecrest and Pantoll intersection. Officials plan to burn 24 acres of overgrown vegetation between Stinson Beach and Mill Valley along the southwestern edge of the watershed.

According to Marin County Fire, the target timeframe is between Tuesday and Thursday, with a specific date to be announced after evaluating conditions. Officials advise that neighbors are likely to notice some smoke and encounter a few interruptions during the burn days.

"Although the operation will strictly adhere to the requirements of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the surrounding community may smell or see smoke," the department said in a news release. "Community members should refrain from calling 911 to report this smoke to avoid overwhelming emergency dispatch lines. Once implemented, West Ridgecrest Boulevard will be closed to vehicle traffic and trails in the immediate vicinity of the controlled burn will be closed through the operation."

Marin County fire crews will oversee the burn and return to the area to check for activity and mop up the site for several days after the burn.

Officials plan to keep the public informed of the burn using Nixle alerts, social media and e-mails to ensure neighbors are aware of the fire and not alarmed at the site of smoke around Mt. Tam.