District News

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Labor Day Weekend as temperatures for interior locations will be in the upper 90s and into the 100s. This heat advisory is set for this weekend, Saturday 8:00am through Sunday 9:00pm. High pressure builds over the Bay Area and Central Coast through the week, making it hot and dry, increasing the risk for wildfires.

Here are a few tips to be prepared:

• Ensure that all dead or dying grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches, leaves, weeds and pine needles are removed within 30 feet of all structures or to the property line.
• Practice safe grilling techniques and place the grill well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Limit outdoor strenuous activities during the hottest time of the day.
• Don't not leave kids or pets in vehicles.
• Stay in air conditioned areas.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Extra care for seniors, pets, vegetation, and livestock.
• When at the coast beware of rip currents.

For more information on community safety, visit: Safety Education Website

Have questions about fire evacuation? As we all know our fire season is off to a start. Our primary concern for citizens of Southern Marin is how to prepare you if ordered to evacuate. This video will be beneficial in helping you and your family stay safe during a wildfire evacuation.

The FireSafe webinar series is created by the members of the educational committee including representatives of the fire agencies, environmental groups, UC Marin Master Gardeners, and various subject matter experts. This project is funded by the new Marin WildFire Prevention Authority. Designed to help you understand and prepare for the threat of a wild fire here in Marin. When we all do our part, we can help minimize risk and save lives as well as property.

This webinar of “Evacuation & Warnings – How To Survive a Wildfire“ will cover the following:

• Community Organizing for Fire Preparedness
• How Wildfires Burn
• Home Hardening
• Open Space Vegetation Management
• Zone Zero - critical first 5ft around your home
• Fire Smart Landscaping
• Creating Defensible Space; Zones 1,2,and 3
• Environmental Best Practices
• Fire Insurance: Are You Covered?

For more information about how you can prepare, please visit southernmarinfire.org or cityofmillvalley.org/fire

Alerts and warnings – what you need to know.

Amergency Alerts Video: CLICK HERE

Notifications during an emergency are essential to a successful evacuation.  We use a number of tools to communicate with residents during an emergency.  In this article we are discussing  Alert Marin and Nixle.  

Alert Marin notifications are sent to your phone(s) or email only when action needs to be taken at a specific address (unlike Nixle safety alerts). Keep reading to learn about the differences between Alert Marin & Nixle.

Fire Season

Fire Season – Well underway!

The Mill Valley Fire Department and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District are actively assisting other communities throughout California, while still remaining vigilant on the home front with 100% of our stations staffed.  We currently have engines and staff committed to:

• Santa Clara Lightning Complex
• Woodward Fire – Marin Coast
• Butte Lightning Complex

As we navigate an increase in number and duration of Red Flag Warnings, we have added equipment and staffing commensurate with the risks to protect our community first.  We have also prioritized helping our neighbors, because we understand that help will come back to our community when we are in need. 

Navigating a fire season means that we do it together.  Your fire department working hand in hand with neighborhoods to prepare for the worst-case scenario.  This link provides excellent information regarding evacuation from your home/neighborhood, locations of your community refuge areas and assistance with a communications plan.  Remember, if you move slower these days due to injury or advanced age, it is ok to pre evacuate until Red Flag (high fire danger) weather resolved. 

Burn_Permit_News_Release.pdf

GET READY CLASS

Saturday, March 31, 2018 10 a.m. – Noon

In preparation for the Marin Drive Structure Protection Group’s

Evacuation Drill a free GET READY class will be given at the