Mulch Flammability Study in Marin

A coalition of agencies, industries, and scientific organizations have partnered to conduct a scientific study to evaluate the relative flammability of various mulch products sold in Marin.  Choosing the right mulch in wildfire prone areas is important. Some mulches can ignite and spread fire quickly.  Others are less easily ignited and take longer to burn.  Questions about the safety of various types of mulch are some of the most common questions referred to Fire Safe Marin.  Until now, there has been a lack of scientific data to compare various mulch products.

Mulch products have been separated into piles and placed in the field next to the Marin County Fire Department headquarters in San Geronimo.  The product will dry and weather for approximately four months to simulate the condition of mulch found in Marin yards and landscapes.  In the fall of 2023, the plots will be burned.  Marin County Fire Department firefighters will be on scene to ensure safety.  Instruments will be used to measure flame length, rate of flame spread and radiant heat.

This study will enable residents to make informed decisions about the use of fire resistant mulch products.   

The following organizations and agencies are participating in this study:  

• Cal Poly Humboldt
• Central Marin Fire Department
• County of Marin
• Fire Safe Marin
• Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority 
• Ron Alexander & Associates
• UC Cooperative Extension
• UCCE Marin Master Gardeners
• UCCE Humboldt/Del Norte
• University of California Berkeley
• UL Research Institute
• USDA Forest Service Missoula Fire Science Laboratory
• West Marin Compost
• Z-Best

Thanks to a favorable weather window and availability of the Tamalpais Fire Crew, there will be a prescribed burn of vegetation piles on a parcel owned by the Town of Corte Madera Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Located west of Endeavor Drive, and south of Granada Drive, these piles were constructed fall 2022 as part of a wildfire hazard reduction project funded by Corte Madera Measure F. 

Central Marin Fire Department, in partnership with neighboring fire agencies and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), will conduct Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluations on residential properties in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of Larkspur and Corte Madera starting April 17, 2023.

A comprehensive report for each property will be available online following the evaluation at http://dspace.marinwildfire.org. This report will provide a detailed analysis of each home's wildfire vulnerabilities, and instructions to improve your safety from wildfires. Some actions outlined in these report are required by law and must be corrected within 30 days.

Reinspections will occur on or after 30 days. Please plan to complete necessary work as soon as possible.

Residents may choose to accompany the Inspectors for a socially distanced tour of their property to find areas that could be improved for defensible space and home-hardening. If nobody is home, that’s okay! Inspectors will evaluate the property from the road/driveway and leave instructions to retrieve the online report.

Please contactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 415 275-1185 with any questions.

Firefighter Job Opportunity Central Marin County California

Announcing and employment opportunity for Firefighter-Paramedic with Central Marin Fire Authority.

• $95,921.28 - $116,625.60 Annually
• Placement on salary schedule may be influenced by experience

Filing Deadline

Open until filled!  Job posting, information, and application available at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/centralmarinpolice/CMFA or follow the link at www.centralmarinfire.org/admin/employment

TO BE CONSIDERED

If you are interested in this outstanding career opportunity, please submit your application online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/centralmarinpolice/CMFA. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, please contact our Human Resources Manager, Janet Thiessen, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone or text at (209) 321-3936. Please ensure you leave your name, phone number and reason for calling.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application are open until filled.

Candidates will receive all communications by email regarding the recruitment process, which includes, but is not limited to, application status and interview scheduling. If you require an alternate means of communications, please contact Human Resources Manager Janet Thiessen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at (209) 321-3936.

SELECTION PROCESS

The qualifications of each applicant, as set forth in the employment application, will be reviewed.

Uniformed Fire Inspectors will be conducting follow-up Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Inspections on residential properties in Corte Madera and Larkspur beginning June 1, 2022. Inspections are conducted by Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) in cooperation with the Central Marin Fire Department.

The initial Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluations conducted last month resulted in a comprehensive online defensible space and home hardening report. These reports outlined steps, both required and recommended, to help reduce each individual property’s vulnerability and improve safety from wildfires. Some issues identified by inpectors are required by law, and MUST be corrected.

Online reports are available to property owners, renters, and authorized representatives, and can be viewed online at http://dspace.marinwildfire.org. A six digit access code provided by the inspectors is necessary to view the report.

Residents can accompany inspectors during the property evaluation to learn about the importance of defensible space and home-hardening. If nobody is home, that’s OK! Inspectors will evaluate publicly visible areas of the property only, and leave instructions to retrieve the online report.

To view a short video on what to expect during an inspection, please click here: Defensible Space & Home Hardening Evaluations (https://youtu.be/fjJATG9Hugc)

Fire has always been a part of the natural history of Marin County MWPA is working with local fire agencies to build resiliency to wildfire into our communities. The meeting below is intended to inform the public about one of MWPA’s projects, the Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break project. This project is a collaborative effort developed by Central Marin Fire Department, Marin County Fire Department, Ross Valley Fire Department, Kentfield Fire Protection District, and Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority member agencies to reduce fire risk to communities in and adjacent to the Ross Valley and central Marin. The project will reduce wildfire risk and improve forest and ecosystem health by reducing non-native plant cover and reversing fuel buildup as  the result of decades of fire-suppression and deferred maintenance by landowners.

Join a public meeting to learn more about vegetation management methods for wildfire protection and ask questions about the project's components.

Topics covered will include:

• A description of the project and its goals and objectives
• Fuels management methods and monitoring
• CalVTP environmental review process
• Review of maps and project locations

Meeting Details:
Online Zoom Call
Thursday, March 10, 2022
6-8pm

Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86574142717
‍Meeting ID: 865 7414 2717
Passcode: 112339
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,86574142717# US (San Jose)

Find out more about the Greater Ross Valley Fuel Break project and zoom link for Meeting 1 at https://www.marinwildfire.org/project/shaded-fuel-break-planning-project

Note: A second meeting is planned for later in the project.

Central Marin Fire Department, in cooperation with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) and the Greater Ross Valley Fire Agencies, is pleased to announce several evacuation route vegetatioon management projects beginning summer 2021. Work will occur in the public right-of-way and on private property belonging to adjacent landowners between August 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022. Additional details and maps are available on the current projects page.

These projects aim to reduce hazardous vegetation fuels, including dead wood and debris, hazard trees and remove invasive, non-native, and fire-hazardous vegetation adjacent to fire access roads, emergency egress roads, and below power lines. The projects will increase horizontal and vertical clearances around roadways to improve the safety of evacuating residents and for fire apparatus access that will benefit multiple neighborhoods and hundreds of homes in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) surrounding the project area. 

Background
Marin County voters passed Measure C in 2020, which established a 17-member Joint Powers Authority, the MWPA, to fund and oversee proactive state-of-the-art wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts within Marin County. Members include several cities and towns, fire protection districts, and community service districts. The MWPA was formed to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness plan throughout almost all of Marin County. This project is a Core Project that is funded by and within the purview of the MWPA. Core Projects include those projects that focus on wildfire detection, notification, and evacuation; vegetation management and fire hazard reduction; grants management; and public education. 

Purpose and Need
The purpose of these projects are to improve evacuation and ingress/egress routes throughout Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Greenbrae and all communities in the Central Marin Zone. The projects will reduce heat, flame, ember, and smoke impingement on roadways and nearby structures, which will enable safer and more efficient evacuations for residents. Removal of vegetation along roadways will also increase access for emergency responders while reducing cover of invasive weeds and maintaining the health of native vegetation and habitat. 

Project DescriptionS

Treatment
Vegetation treatment and removal will target invasive, non-native, and fire-hazardous vegetation and accumulated dead biomass along the roads. Treatment activities will typically involve vegetation removal within 10 to 30 feet from the road edge and vertical vegetation clearance up to 15 feet to allow safe ingress and egress of emergency personnel and residents. Vegetation removal may occur up to 100 feet from the road edge where topographical or vegetation fuels require greater treatment distances for the safe evacuation of residents. Areas where fuel treatments may need to extend beyond 30 feet will be determined by a qualified professional who understands forest ecology and fuel management or a fire professional, prior to treatments. Treatments will include the removal of invasive, non-native, and fire hazardous vegetation and accumulated dead biomass along roads. 

Central Marin Fire Department and Kentfield Fire Protection District, in partnership with Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), will conduct Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluations on residential properties in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of Greenbrae starting in late June. (see map, below)

A comprehensive report for each property will be available online following the evaluation.  The report will provide steps to reduce your property’s vulnerability and improve your safety from wildfires. Some actions outlined in this report are required by law.

We encourage residents to accompany the Inspectors for a socially distanced tour of their property to find areas that could be improved for defensible space and home-hardening. If nobody is home, that’s okay! Inspectors will evaluate the property from the road/driveway and leave instructions to retrieve the online report.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 415 275-1185 with any questions.

Central Marin Fire Department, in partnership with neighboring fire agencies and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), will conduct Wildfire Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluations on residential properties in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of East Corte Madera, Meadowsweet and Chapman neighborhoods of Corte Madera starting June 9.

A comprehensive report for each property will be available online following the evaluation. This report will provide steps to reduce your property’s vulnerability and improve your safety from wildfires. Some actions outlined in this report are required by law.

We encourage residents to accompany the Inspectors for a socially distanced tour of their property to find areas that could be improved for defensible space and home-hardening. If nobody is home, that’s okay! Inspectors will evaluate the property from the road/driveway and leave instructions to retrieve the online report.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 415 275-1185 with any questions.

For more information, contact Todd Lando, Hazard Mitigation Specialist at Central Marin Fire Department (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

The Greater Ross Valley Fire Agencies (Marin County Fire Department, Ross Valley Fire Department, Kentfield Fire Protection District, and Central Marin Fire Authority) are seeking to fill the position of Defensible Space Lead position. Fixed-term appointments may be made for up to a one-year period. Continued appointment in this position is contingent upon funding and job performance. This is an “at will” position. This position has limited benefits available and will be fully funded through the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA).

Under general direction, the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist/Defensible Space Lead develops, plans, oversees, and monitors vegetation management projects and/or programs, including projects related to fire fuel modification, working closely with local fire agencies, public land managers, nongovernmental organizations, and adjacent private property owners; provides lead direction to assigned staff; manages the “Defensible Space” inspection program, and performs related duties as assigned.

This position is being offered by Ross Valley Fire Department, and prospective candicdates should visit their employment page here.

Marin County Open Space District staff maintenance crew plan to burn the vegetation piles at Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve (243-323 Wilson Way and Hatzic Ct) 2/8- 2/11.  This is a planned burn of vegetation cut earlier in the season.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) permit is weather and wind dependent - crews will be on site at approximately 8am to begin preparations and will commence igniting piles at 10am. This work is planned but tentative, so if Open Space staff are unable to proceed they will look for other opportunities to address these piles in the coming months.  Fire suppression equipment from Marin County Open Space (hoses, vehicles) will all be on site and crews will be monitoring/tending piles closely. 

Local residents should experience minimal air quality impacts, as the operation plan is to burn the piles as hot as possible which creates little smoke as possible (but not smoke-free).  Residents with smoke sensitivities or other health considerations may want to plan to be elsewhere during these operations, from approximately 9am to 4pm. 

This type of controled pile burning to reduce wildfire vegetation fuels is a valuable tool to help reduce hazardous vegetation on open space lands near homes, and is conducted in a safe manner only when weather and vegetation conditions allow.

Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Planning and Program Manager of Operations
ESTIMATED RANGE OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Full Time Compensation: $95,000 - $130,000 Annual
With benefits in Accordance with Authority Policies

Join an innovative new organization created in 2020 to address the threat of catastrophic wildfire in Marin County, California. The visionary voters of Marin County passed Measure C, “The Marin Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Initiative.” As we have seen in the last several years, fires know no boundaries, and the voters in Marin County have recognized the time is now to prepare and plan for addressing this massive risk. A groundbreaking endeavor and the first of its kind in the State of California, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) was born out of Measure C and is now positioned as the central coordinating agency charged with addressing the risk of wildfire in Marin County. Under this voter approved initiative, MWPA will enable the 17 local fire agencies serving Marin County to work together as a single Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire prevention and emergency
preparedness and response plan for Marin County. The newly created agency has a 17- member Board of Directors, an Operations Committee, and an Advisory/Technical Committee all working together to address the following:

• Defensible space around homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, get the initiative up and running
• Vegetation Management and Fire Hazard Reduction
• Early Alerts and Organized Evacuations

At this time, the MWPA’s staff includes an Executive Officer, and part-time support services provided by staff from Southern Marin Fire District. The newly created Planning and Program Manager of Operations Position is the first position created to help implement the plan. MWPA is seeking a highly motivated self-starter who is passionate about the mission of the organization and inspired to take on the challenge of helping to build a new organization from the ground up. This position will be key to the success of the organization with primary responsibility for leading the implementation of MWPA’s operational and environmental services programs.

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter, resume, the attached Supplemental Questionnaire, 3 professional and 1 personal reference via email to Liza Andre, Human Resources Manager, Southern Marin Fire District: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For further information on the position, please visit https://www.marinwildfire.org/mwpa-staff

Central Marin Fire Department congratulates the resident of Greenbrae on their achievement of national recognition as a Firewise USA Site! We thank all Greenbrae residents for their work to reduce wildfire risk and build a more wildfire resilient community.

The Firewise USA Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes from the risk of wildfire. The program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire while encouraging and empowering neighbors to work together to take action now to reduce their wildfire risk and prevent losses.  Join the growing network of more than 1,500 recognized Firewise communities taking action and ownership in preparing and protecting their homes against the threat of wildfire.   

Marin has more nationally recognized Firewise USA sites (neighborhoods) than any other county in the nation. Greenbrae joins their neighbors Blue Rock (Larkspur), Hidden Valley (Corte Madera) , Madrone Canyon (Larkspur), Christmas Tree Hill (Corte Madera), Meadowcrest (Corte Madera), and Palm Hill (Larkspur) within the Central Marin Fire Authoriy's jursidiction.

It’s a wrap!! This was our 20th annual Christmas Holiday Gift Drive and our biggest year yet! We were able to make Christmas a little brighter by providing gift cards to 118 kids, newborn to age 17, from 50 different families in our communities.

Our traditional fundraising methods were impossible this year due to COVID, but, like they do every day, the members of the Central Marin Police Officers Association and the Central Marin Firefighters Association came to the rescue with generous donations. We are also very grateful for the generosity of the Town of Corte Madera, Corte Madera Women’s Club, Perry Butler of Perry's on Magnolia, and the participants in Central Marin Fire Department’s Santa Drive for their monetary and in-kind donations. Special thanks to Nichole from the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District who helped to coordinate with the families and deliver the gift card letters. Thank you everyone for your kindness and support. Your generosity has brought joy to many of our local families this holiday season.

Central Marin Fire Department has partnered with the City of Larkspur, Marin County Open Space District, and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority to reduce hazardous wildfire fuels near the Citron Fire Road and Citron Bowl area in the King Mountain Open Space Preserve (see map attached below). The project is designed to remove hazardous invasive vegetation fuel and to restore native plant communities and improve natural habitat. Funding for the project is provided by local Measure C dollars from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.

The project will include removal and treatment of invasive and hazardous vegetation, including acacia, cotoneaster, broom, eucalyptus, and dead and downed vegetation. Crews will utilize chainsaws and hand tools to cut vegetation, and will create several piles to be burned by the fire department when permissible and safe over the winter. Central Marin Fire Department thanks you in advance for your patience and support during the project, expected to begin in November 2020 with ongoing maintenance through 2021.

Please contact Todd Lando, Hazard Mitigation Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. you have any questions regarding the project.