This year’s Fire Prevention Week takes place from Sunday, October 6th through Saturday, October 12th. The theme? The National Fire Prevention Association’s campaign says, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™”
Checking to see that you have a working smoke alarm is vital to protect your family in an emergency. However, the threat of wildfires put homes in many states at risk of uncontrolled burns. In recent years, in California, wildfires have increased from year to year. According to Cal Fire, in 2023 there were 5,317 wildfires. In 2024, near the end of September, just the beginning of fire season, there were already 6,332. To date, those wildfires included 3,289 structure fires and burned almost one million acres.
What it means to Marin
If you live in Marin County, CA, you may already have received a visit from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), a countywide agency. One of their goals is to educate residents about the importance of defensible space and home hardening. You may be wondering if there is a definition of what that means. You’ll find at least one explanation on the MWPA site:
“Defensible Space creates a buffer between a structure and the vegetation that surrounds it. Home Hardening addresses the most vulnerable components of a structure with building materials and installation techniques that increase resistance to heat, flames, and embers that accompany wildfires.”
The MWPA’s work may get a boost soon. That is, if the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, the agency charged with developing the fire prevention rules, can reach an agreement on what defensible space and home hardening measures will be most effective.
No plants within 5 feet of a structure?
On the table are a range of ideas, including the elimination of most vegetation within five feet of a home, garage, ADU or outbuilding, in fire-prone areas.
“The concept that the 5 feet closest to structures is critical was developed by the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, an insurance industry research group.” San Francisco Chronicle, By Julie Johnson, Reporter, July 16, 2024
So, back to Marin County
MWPA has divided Marin into five zones, Southern Marin, West Marin, Central Marin, San Rafael, and Novato. Each zone has its own projects related to fuel reduction and other fire mitigation projects, along with a defined evacuation route for each zone. Currently, the San Rafael Direct Residence Assistance project is in place, targeting structures in high-risk areas and residents with financial and/or mobility challenges to remove vegetation deemed a hazard.
The Fire Safe Marin site offers a long list of ways to better protect your home. They also offer a detailed description of how homes ignite. The information is out there, but you may not think to avail yourself of it until a fire inspector knocks on your door. This will happen. According to this site, “Every home in Marin will be visited by a trained wildfire specialist who will evaluate risks on your property.”
But you don’t need to wait!
Take advantage of the informational resources Marin County and local nonprofits like Fire Safe Marin provide to get a jump-start on the process. There are many simple, low-cost ways to begin to create defensible space and harden you home and property. Fire season is here, no matter where you live in Marin, Sonoma or Napa counties. We don’t have control of nature, but we do have control over our own activities. Take action now.