Wildfire does not follow jurisdictional boundaries. Preparing for it requires state agencies, county departments, fire districts, local governments, nonprofits, community organizations, and residents to work toward the same goals.
California is addressing that challenge through a coordinated approach: establish statewide priorities, then help counties put them into practice based on their local risks and needs. The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Action Plan provides the statewide direction. The Wildfire County Coordinator Program, supported by CAL FIRE and administered by the California Fire Safe Council, helps connect that Action Plan’s strategy with work happening in individual counties.
Established in 2021, the program has funded coordinators in 52 of California’s 58 counties. Collectively, County Coordinators have worked with more than 10,000 organizations, helped educate and engage more than 970,000 people, and supported thousands of community events and wildfire preparedness activities.
What does a County Coordinator do?
A County Coordinator serves as a link between statewide wildfire strategy and local action. The role brings fire agencies, government departments, community organizations, and other partners together to exchange information, coordinate planning, and strengthen public education.
The coordinator also participates in statewide meetings and training, shares local project information with the California Fire Safe Council, and brings lessons and best practices from other counties back to local partners.
For the public, this coordination may happen behind the scenes, but its effects are important. It helps agencies provide residents with clear and consistent guidance, reduces unnecessary duplication, identifies gaps in outreach, and makes it easier to connect people with the information and services they need to prepare.
What this means for Marin
Fire Safe Marin has been designated at the County Coordinator organization for Marin. Bill Tyler, Fire Safe Marin’s executive director, currently serves as the County Coordinator.
In this role, retired Fire Chief Tyler works closely with Marin Wildfire, the Marin County Fire Department, the Marin County Office of Emergency Management, local fire agencies, Firewise communities, and other key community partners. This effort includes creating content for countywide public outreach, supporting Marin’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, sharing local project data with statewide partners, and helping ensure that Marin’s preparedness information reflects current statewide best practices and data-driven research.
Why this matters for Marin residents
Wildfire preparedness can seem complicated. Residents must consider emergency alerts, evacuation planning, smoke, defensible space, home improvements, insurance, and neighborhood-level preparedness. This information often comes from different organizations and through a variety of communication pathways.
The County Coordinator program helps connect the pieces. It supports a shared approach in which residents can receive practical, science-informed information and take action at the household and neighborhood levels.
The County Coordinator program supports and strengthens Fire Safe Marin programs and resources for Marin residents, including but not limited to:
- Emergency preparedness information: Articles, videos, newsletters, and guides help residents understand best practices for wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, smoke safety, Red Flag Warnings, AlertMarin and other steps they can take before an emergency.
- Home and yard guidance: Fire Safe Marin provides extensive information about home hardening, defensible space, Zone 0, and fire-smart landscaping. These resources help residents understand which upgrades can most effectively reduce the chance that their home will ignite.
- Wildfire Risk Home Evaluation Program education: Fire Safe Marin helps residents understand the evaluation process and use their personalized Wildfire Risk Report to identify risks, prioritize improvements, and decide where to begin.
- Firewise community support: Fire Safe Marin provides tools, workshops, educational materials, and direct assistance to help neighborhoods become and remain recognized Firewise USA sites. This helps neighbors work together on vegetation removal, evacuation practice, home improvements, and other shared priorities.
- Training for professionals and community partners: Programs such as the Fire Safe Academy help contractors understand wildfire-resistant construction and retrofitting. Fire Safe Marin also works with landscapers, real estate professionals, nurseries, chambers of commerce, and other trusted community messengers who can help residents make informed decisions.
- Accessible community education: Fire Safe Marin maintains Spanish-language preparedness resources, organizes presentations and workshops, supports community events, and develops materials that local agencies and Firewise leaders can share directly with residents.
No single organization can prepare Marin for wildfire on its own. By connecting state expertise, local agencies, community partners, and residents, the County Coordinator Program helps Marin speak with a more consistent voice and turn preparedness information into practical action.
Take the next step: Start or strengthen a Firewise community
Find out if you live in a Firewise community or learn how to start one in your neighborhood.
Funding for this effort is provided through a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as part of the California Climate Investments Program. The funding is administered by the California Fire Safe Council and the program is supported by CAL FIRE.
