San Rafael, CA – Approximately 58 acres of an oceanside hill were blackened by a West Marin wildfire on October 24, but no one was injured and no structures burned. The cause of the fire is unknown.
A view of the charred hillside as a result of the Muir Fire on October 24, 2019.The Muir Fire, Marin County’s largest of the year, was first reported at 10:45 a.m. just north of the nonprofit Slide Ranch facility at 2025 Highway 1 in a remote area along the Pacific Ocean. The fire was just north of Muir Beach and south of Stinson Beach in a sparsely populated area. The charred area consisted of coastal brush and grasslands. As of Thursday afternoon, Highway 1 remained closed in the fire area.
Approximately 150 personnel were devoted to the blaze. Contributing agencies were the Marin County Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Southern Marin Fire, Central Marin, Stinson Beach, Novato Fire District, Mill Valley Fire, National Park Service Fire, State Parks, Bolinas Fire, Inverness Fire, Muir Beach Fire, Kentfield Fire, San Rafael Fire and Ross Valley Fire.
The first units arrived about 13 minutes after the initial call. In all, seven engines, three water tenders, six fire crews, one bulldozer, five aircraft, and several chief officers were assigned to the incident.
Attacks from the air, both with water and retardant, were crucial to preventing the wildfire’s spread. Air tankers and a helicopter from CAL FIRE doused the flames on and off for three hours. Offshore breezes were beneficial as well, pushing flames toward the ocean instead of up the slopes of Mount Tamalpais to the east. Winds were approximately 15-20 mph during the fire.
Fire personnel will remain at scene overnight and through Friday to ensure fire does not spread.
Marin is experiencing hot dry weather with strong winds, and the National Weather Service is predicting stronger winds and dryer conditions over the weekend with little recovery between events.
“I urge residents and visitors to use caution,” said Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber.
Residents are urged to register for Alert Marin notifications and ensure that they have a plan in case of a wildfire. Visit FIRESafe Marin for more information about how to prepare for a fire emergency.