Controlled Burns, Wildfire Training This Week In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Controlled burns are scheduled Thursday and Friday in Marin County, serving as a dual opportunity to provide seasonal firefighter training and reduce fuels for wildfires this season.

The burns will take place in Marinwood at a site north of Saint Vincent's School, east of Highway 101. The training fires will cover about 30 acres, supporting the Marin County Fire Department's fuel management efforts. Officials expect 120 personnel will participate in the prescribed burns, including 80 seasonal firefighters, who will get hands-on practice laying hoses, building hand lines and using tactical communication.

The county expects smoke will be visible around Marinwood, San Rafael and Novato between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and ask that neighbors refrain from calling 911 if they see plumes coming from the direction of the training area.

The fire department said no wind impacts were in the forecast for the training days, but officials will be checking conditions hourly. The burns will be done according to guidelines set by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

"The burn site is surrounded by a combination of fire control lines and dirt roads in place to keep the fire from spreading beyond the training area," officials said Monday. "Additional firefighters are on hand to support the holding operations."

With summer right around the corner, Marin County residents can read up on how to create defensible space on their property via FireSafe Marin, learn about making emergency kits from Ready Marin, and register to receive emergency communications through Alert Marin.