San Rafael, CA – Travelers in Marin County might see a few flashing reminders about wildfire danger as they drive over the Fourth of July weekend, especially in light of the tendency for some people choosing to ignore warnings about using illegal fireworks.
The Marin County Fire Department and the Marin County Department of Public Works are collaborating on the deployment of electronic roadside signs to emphasize wildfire prevention and the local rules about fireworks. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is including fireworks messaging on its large electronic signs adjacent to highways during the holiday in addition to promoting its reminders about not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Marin office of the California Highway Patrol also is entering a maximum enforcement period for impaired driving.
Thanks to its natural beauty, Marin is a world-renowned destination spot no matter what time of year it is. Holiday weekends and nice weather typically drive up recreational visitations even higher. With COVID-19 cases surging right as shelter-in-place fatigue is reaching critical levels, public safety concerns are rising as Marin braces for an expected influx of revelers. There may be fewer vacationers from around the world or around the country checking out Marin because of the pandemic, but more residents of San Francisco, the North Bay, the East Bay and beyond could be lured to the county’s beaches, hiking trails, and coastal villages as a respite from sheltering.
“Many visitors are from other parts of the Bay Area or even further away, and they may not be aware of the increased fire danger here in Marin,” said Mark Brown, Deputy Chief of the Marin County Fire Department. “We’re just coming off a Red Flag Warning because of the combination of dry conditions and high winds. We are on high alert, and we’d like all those visitors to be on high alert as well.”
Law enforcement personnel from the California Highway Patrol, Marin County Sheriff’s Office and local, state, and national park rangers will be on duty patrolling the coastal areas over the weekend. The Fourth of July tends to bring large amounts of vehicle traffic to the coastal areas and causes delays in emergency responses. During the pandemic, Marin County Public Health has recommended that people enjoy recreation closer to their homes to reduce changes of spreading of the virus, and that practice translates to less traffic on the coastal roadways.
The Marin weather forecast for the Fourth of July holiday weekend is largely for sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s at the beaches and mid-80s closer to San Francisco Bay.