Preventing Wildfires in Marin

Wildfire mitigation is vital to Marin | photo from Sausalito Currents | post by Larry Clinton

Wildfires are bigger, burn longer, cause more damage, and kill more people than ever before. Marin is as susceptible as Sonoma County or other areas that have suffered large destructive fires. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that a new Joint Powers Authority has been formed to undertake proactive, state-of-the-art wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts in Marin for the next ten years. Funded by the Measure C parcel tax* which passed with 70.8% voter approval in 2019, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) has been formed to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness plan throughout almost all of Marin County. Key elements of this program include:

  1. Vegetation management
  2. Wildfire detection and evacuation program improvements
  3. Grants to allow senior, low-income and other vulnerable residents to reduce fire risk
  4. Public education
  5. Defensible space evaluations
  6. Local wildfire prevention mitigation
  7. Improved emergency alert and warning systems

Marin citizens and representatives of interest groups are invited to apply for service on the MWPA’s Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC). The application period closes at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Nine participants will be selected by the MWPA Board of Directors, with five participants representing the MWPA’s geographical area and four representing the following interest groups: Taxpayer Organizations, Environmental Organizations, Fire Prevention Organizations and Non-Partisan Civic Organizations.

Interested individuals can fill out the COC application and upload a resume online.

*Some senior citizens can qualify for an exemption from the parcel tax, with certain conditions. To apply for the exemption, print out the MWPA form, fill it out and return it with a copy of proof of age and income per instructions on the form.