Woodacre, CA – Each year California highlights the importance of wildfire prevention and preparedness by declaring the first full week of May as Wildfire Awareness Week. This year, during the week of May 3-9, fire departments across the state will remind residents of the dangers posed by wildfires and the simple steps that should be followed to prepare for and prevent them.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors plans to acknowledge Wildfire Awareness Week by passing a resolution during its meeting May 5.
As of May 1, residents who live in State Responsibility Areas of West Marin will begin receiving self-inspection checklists in the mail. The Marin County Fire Department is contracted with the State of California to protect 200,312 acres of State Responsibility Area similar in the way it is contacted for 101,297 acres of the National Park Service’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument and Point Reyes National Seashore. In all, County Fire protects approximately 340,000 acres of federal, state, local and private lands.
There are 14,551 living units with Marin’s State Responsibility Area, and residents in those homes will receive the green mailers asking them to evaluate their property for wildfire risks. The checklists should be returned to the fire department no later than July 1.
With this year’s record low rain and continued drought, the importance of preparing for wildfires has only been heightened, and the Marin County Fire Department is urging checklist recipients to spend the time to go over the checklist.
“This is a great way to jump-start efforts to protect your home,” said Battalion Chief Mike Giannini. “The mailers give great guidance on what you can do now to create defensible space.”
Clearing brush 100 feet from homes is required by law for all property in the State Responsibility Areas. Without defensible space, a dwelling may not be considered saveable in a wildfire and firefighters may choose not to protect the property due to the risk.
In conjunction with efforts to clear brush and hazards from their property, residents can take advantage of Green Waste Days on June 20-21 and July 11-12. Branches, grass and light brush can be brought in for composting at the Nicasio corporation yard, 5575 Nicasio Valley Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, Marin County Fire Department, West Marin Compost and FIRE Safe MARIN.