When fallen eucalyptus debris began building up in Kathleen Norris Park, neighbors in Mill Valley’s Alta Molino community banded together and got to work. Now in its third year, their volunteer cleanup effort in the neighborhood park is helping reduce wildfire fuel while bringing residents closer together.
Residents Barbara Gollert and Bob McDowell recently became co-leaders of Alta Molino’s Firewise community and Neighborhood Response Group. They’re building on the work of Margaret Fisher, who led the Firewise community from its founding and remains actively involved. Together with their fellow volunteers, they’re making wildfire preparedness part of neighborhood life through hands-on projects and opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another.
Making cleanup a regular habit
Kathleen Norris Park is a familiar place for Mill Valley residents who walk through the neighborhood. With the Firewise community’s efforts to remove the buildup of dried vegetation debris, the park has become safer and more welcoming.
This year, volunteers held two major cleanups, one in the spring and one in the fall. Returning at regular intervals each year helps keep the buildup in check.
It was demanding work, with heavy raking and gathering debris from the hillside. At the fall cleanup event, Barbara estimates that volunteers completely filled four small dumpsters, with additional material collected in large garden waste bags.
The effort brought together residents and local partners. The City of Mill Valley provided tools and dumpsters, and the local volunteer organization Steps, Lanes and Paths contributed equipment and support. Southern Marin Fire District also helped with clearing out the nearby gullies.
Depending on the cleanup event, about seven to 15 volunteers from their Firewise community usually pitch in. Recently, a Tamalpais High School student also joined the effort and earned community service hours.
Knowing the people nextdoor
The cleanups are one part of Alta Molino’s ongoing preparedness efforts. Community meetings and an annual summer street party give residents a chance to meet, ask questions and learn together. Southern Marin Fire District has been known to join these neighborhood events, bringing a fire engine to entertain the kids and providing information to help residents with emergency preparedness efforts.
To keep community preparedness conversations going between gatherings, the Firewise leaders send out a quarterly newsletter, sharing neighborhood updates and guidance from Southern Marin Fire District and Fire Safe Marin.
“Knowing your neighbor is the key to success,” Barbara said. “Our parties and meetings help people get to know one another and understand who might need extra help in an emergency.” She has also noticed more and more residents working on their own properties, clearing vegetation and maintaining their yards.
The group puts its emergency preparations into practice with twice-yearly “HELP/OK” evacuation drills, timed around the spring and fall daylight savings clock changes. The exercise helps neighborhood volunteers practice identifying which households may need assistance during an evacuation.
Inviting more neighbors to take part
“Keeping people involved takes persistence. The hardest part is reaching people and getting them involved,” Barbara said. “We’re always looking for more neighbors to join, whether it’s lending a hand at a cleanup or taking part in a preparedness drill.”
Alta Molino’s Firewise leaders hope to connect with nearby Firewise communities and Neighborhood Response Groups to coordinate activities and bring more residents into the effort. As Barbara puts it, “the more connected we become, the more people will get involved. And that’ll make it safer for everyone.”
What is Firewise?
Firewise USA is a national program that helps neighbors work together to reduce wildfire risk and prepare for emergencies. Participating communities identify local risks, create an action plan and organize activities such as vegetation cleanups, home hardening and wildfire preparedness education. In Marin, Fire Safe Marin supports these resident-led groups with guidance and resources to help them get organized, take action and maintain their standing in the program. Fire Safe Marin also hosts local Firewise meetings to support the community leaders.
Want to connect with neighbors and reduce wildfire risk where you live? Explore Fire Safe Marin’s Firewise resources to find your community and learn how to get involved.
