This Bay Area County Is Preparing For Wildfires Through Small Steps

MARIN COUNTY, CA — With wildfires threatening year round, the Marin County Fire Department is strengthening wildfire mitigation efforts by asking the community to help out.

May is wildfire awareness month and while the MCFD has expanded its operational readiness, the County is requesting the community play its part all year as well.

Wildfires in January in Southern California were some of the most destructive in what used to be considered the wildfire offseason.

The County is using CAL FIRE’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps to guide the strategic planning for Marin County, including vegetation management in areas most at risk, according to MCFD.

MCFD’s Tamalpais Fire Crew and FIRE Foundry Fuel Crews have been working across Marin all year, and the Marin County Office of Emergency Management has partnered with cities, towns and special districts to implement projects under the Local Hazard Mitigation plan, according to MCFD.

ReadyMarin has provided emergency preparedness training to the community but there are other actions MCFD is asking them to take such as:

• Sign up for emergency alerts at Emergency.MarinCounty.gov
• Create a family emergency plan with evacuation routes and key contacts
• Prepare a Go Bag with necessary items for all household members and pets
• Connect with and support neighbors before, during, and after disasters.
• Clear defensible space, starting with the first 5 feet around your home
• For checklists, defensible space guidelines, and other resources, visit FireSafeMarin.org

“Together, our individual actions build stronger, safer and a more resilient Marin,” a press release stated.