Wildfire in Mill Valley
If you needed a wildfire preparedness wake-up call, the July 27 Hillside Fire in Mill Valley showed how work completed before a fire can make all the difference. Planned efforts by local agencies working together to clear excess vegetation, make fuel breaks and other key strategies were central to the successful handling of the Hillside Fire.
For residents, the event should drive home the need to sign up for alerts, have evacuation plans, and actively reduce wildfire risks around their homes.
Photo courtesy of Richard Paterson
What happened?
At 4:42pm on July 27, firefighters responded to a fire on the steep terrain between Hillside Avenue and Blithedale Ridge in Mill Valley. Smoke was visible for hours as aircraft circled overhead and firefighters worked on the ground.
By 6:10pm, firefighters had stopped the fire from spreading and kept it to approximately 1.5 acres. Thanks to the exceptional efforts of the firefighter crews, no evacuation orders ended up being issued and no structures were damaged. The crews remained in the area to watch for and extinguish hot spots as needed.
The Hillside Fire was a clear reminder of Marin’s wildfire risk. It also showed the value of work completed long before an emergency begins.
Preparing before a fire
As the Hillside Fire burned, it reached areas where dense vegetation had previously been cleared or thinned out. Southern Marin Fire reported that this work helped slow the fire, which gave firefighters and aircraft more time and space to respond effectively.
Areas that have had that type of vegetation work are often called “fuel breaks.” They are places where excess brush, dead plants and crowded vegetation are removed or reduced. The goal is to slow a fire, reduce its intensity and give firefighters safer places to work. Fuel breaks cannot stop every wildfire, but they can make a fire easier to fight.
This work reflects years of local planning and investment. Vegetation projects in the area have been supported by Measure C, as well as a local Mill Valley tax, and various state grants. Currently work is underway on the Greater Mill Valley Fuel Break, a planned 23-mile network around hillside neighborhoods.
A strong response also depends on agencies preparing and working together. During the Hillside Fire, Southern Marin Fire, Mill Valley Police, nearby fire agencies and firefighting aircraft coordinated their efforts. Firefighters worked to control the fire while police prepared to manage traffic, share public safety information and help with an evacuation, if one became necessary.
Residents have an important role
Agencies cannot prepare a community for wildfire on their own. Residents play a key role in wildfire preparedness and can support fire agency efforts by taking a few important steps:
- Make sure AlertMarin can reach you. If you haven’t signed up for AlertMarin, you should do so immediately; and if you haven’t checked in a while, log in to make sure your contact information is still accurate. AlertMarin sends urgent emergency information, including evacuation orders, by phone, text and email.
- Create and practice an evacuation plan. Know at least two ways out of your neighborhood and decide where you will go. Plan for children, pets, older adults, people with mobility needs and anyone who may require help. During an evacuation, take one vehicle whenever possible to help reduce traffic. Review Fire Safe Marin’s evacuation planning guidance.
- Prepare a go-kit. Keep medications, identification, important documents, clothing, water, chargers and supplies for each household member and pet ready to take with you.
- Talk with your neighbors. Share evacuation plans and identify anyone who may need help leaving. Knowing who may need support can save valuable time during an emergency.
- Wildfire safety is most effective when residents take action at home and work together as a neighborhood. An efficient way of doing that is through the Firewise program. Find out if you live in a Firewise community or learn how to start one in your neighborhood.
- Reduce risks around your home. Open your personalized Wildfire Risk Report and review the prioritized actions for your property. Removing combustible items within five feet of our home and addressing vulnerable vents, gutters, fences and other parts of your home can help protect it from embers, heat and flames.
Wildfire preparedness works best when many efforts support one another: clearing excess vegetation, improving homes (home hardening), planning evacuations, sharing reliable information and acting quickly.
Learn more at the Hillside Fire Community Meeting
The Hillside Fire is a timely reminder that preparing now can make a meaningful difference during the next emergency.
Southern Marin Fire and the Mill Valley Police Department will hold a Hillside Fire Community Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, from 5pm to 6pm at North Bridge Academy, 17 Buena Vista Avenue, in Mill Valley.
Residents who attend will learn more about what happened, how the agencies responded and what they can do to prepare for wildfire. RSVP to prevention@smfd.org.
