Marin Firefighters Gear Up for Summer Season

Firefighters Take Proactive Steps to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Marin County

Marin firefighters have been working diligently this week to clear hazardous vegetation on Mount Tamalpais. By burning dozens of piles of dry plant material, they aim to reduce the risk of wildfires during the upcoming summer season. This initiative is part of a broader effort led by the Marin Municipal Water District and the Marin County Fire Department to manage forest areas and prevent potential fires.

“It’s critical work,” said Marin County fire Battalion Chief Jordan Reeser, who oversees the vegetation management program. “It allows us to reduce the fuels to a point where if there is a wildfire, it would burn with a lot less intensity and it would be easier to control.”

Fire officials note that the recent off-and-on rain has created an average start to the fire season. However, they warn that the risk could increase significantly in late summer and early fall. Mark Brown, executive director of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, explained that the record heat in March caused grass to dry out, followed by late-season rains that brought new growth.

“I think it put us back on a regular schedule for when we will start having grass fires, but I think we will have more fuel,” Brown said. The grasses are expected to reach critical levels around September and October, coinciding with Diablo wind events, which are known for spreading fires quickly.

Another factor contributing to the heightened risk is the forecasted El Niño year. According to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, El Niño can lead to hotter conditions along the coast and increase the likelihood of dry lightning. In 2020, lightning strikes across California ignited numerous fires, including the nearly 5,000-acre Woodward fire in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Swain noted that while conditions may not be extremely dry, the increased biomass from the regrowth of grasses could result in a very active fire season. “I do think that this could be a very active grass fire, brush fire season, but not because things are extremely dry, but more because there’s more biomass, simply more vegetation, and it will also probably be on the warmer side.”

San Rafael fire Chief Abe Roman emphasized the importance of preparedness and mitigation. “That is why our focus in San Rafael and throughout Marin County continues to be preparedness and mitigation.” The department is maintaining aggressive vegetation management efforts, improving evacuation readiness, and educating residents on how to harden their homes against wildfires.

The San Rafael Fire Department has also enlisted a herd of goats to graze on open space grasses this season. This week, the goats were seen grazing in Deer Valley off Smith Ranch Road. Quinn Gardner, deputy director of emergency management, explained that the focus is on managing "flashy fuels" near homes and in areas difficult to access with mechanical treatment.

Gardner also mentioned that the department is ramping up efforts to increase emergency alert registrations and help residents in high-risk areas take action to protect their homes. A new program allows the department to pay for the installation of ember-resistant vents after a full evaluation. Additionally, there is a free hazardous vegetation removal program and other assistance initiatives.

“We know it can be financially, emotionally and physically hard to make changes to adapt to wildfire,” Gardner said. “But we also know the lack of action will be even harder. As always we are working to protect lives and homes, but these efforts also protect against rising insurance costs and cancellations, improve our environment and reduce the risk of a devastating wildfire in San Rafael.”

The work on Mount Tamalpais is part of the Marin Municipal Water District’s “biodiversity, fire and fuels integrated plan,” adopted in 2019. Since November, the district has burned approximately 1,800 piles across 55 forested acres. Jessie Underhill, spokesperson for the district, said the goal is to manage 1,800 acres of vegetation annually.

The Marin County Fire Department has a full-time roster of 160 firefighters, with plans to reinforce the team with a seasonal crew of 150. Weber noted that the department is increasing the number of personnel involved in defensible space inspections, education, and vegetation management. Fire crews are spending their time on field work when not fighting fires.

Brown highlighted the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority’s efforts, which include more than 30,000 home inspections annually and three large-scale defensible space projects. One such project is the Ross Valley shaded fuel break, aiming to create a 38-mile band of cleared vegetation. Crews have completed about 30 miles so far.

A similar project in Novato calls for a 60-mile fuel break, nearly halfway done. A newer project in Mill Valley will create a fuel break of more than 20 miles. “When it comes to our work, we’ve been working with urgency since day one,” Brown said.

For the fire forecast, Swain noted that there is no drought in Marin or California, but the weather is giving mixed signals. “I think the warming oceans this year in particular are likely to result in a summer that feels noticeably different,” he said. “How that exactly plays out in terms of fire remains to be seen, but the long-term trend has been toward warmer summers, longer fire seasons and greater high-risk periods.”