“The main reason we were successful defending the homes we did was due to the defensible space provided by the homeowners,” he said. “We were not successful at saving some homes in the neighborhood as we were spread too thin.”
The Marin Independent Journal published an excellent interview Saturday with Tim Walsh, Crew Superintendant for Marin’s Tamalpais Fire Crew, upon their return from the devastating Valley Fire in Lake County. Fire Safe Marin extends condolences to the families of those who died and to the thousands of families whoe lost their homes and belongings, however we are not stunned that a fire like this occurred. More damaging wildfires are likely as we reach October, historically the most critical month of fire season in Northern California – without taking into account this year’s record setting drought.
Upon returning from the Valley Fire, Walsh and the Tamalpais Fire Crew immediately returned to work for Fire Safe Marin where our partnership helps reduce vegetation fuels in Marin’s wildlands. Currently nearing completion on a eucalyptus removal and fuel break project on Ridgewood Fire Road above the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide Open Space Preserve, the Tamalpais Fire Crew is one of Marin’s best resources for not only fighting wildfires, but preventing them and reducing the intensity of ones that might occur in the future.
While the Tamalpais Fire Crew successfully saved dozens of homes near Middletown, Superintendant Walsh summed it up the in the interview: “The main reason we were successful defending the homes we did was due to the defensible space provided by the homeowners,” he said. “We were not successful at saving some homes in the neighborhood as we were spread too thin.”
Read the full article in the Marin Independent Journal: Valley Fire devastation stuns Marin’s Tamalpais Fire Crew
Here’s a look at the Tamalpais Crew right before they left for the Valley Fire while working on a Fire Safe Marin wildfire hazard reduction project:
