District News

The Southern Marin Fire District has developed a smartphone application and submitted it to the iTunes, Windows and Google Play stores and is now available for download. In the Apple store the application is listed as SMFD and in the Android and Windows stores as Southern Marin Fire District.

Developed internally by Chief Tubbs, the application is designed to address the increasing technology drive to move information and services to mobile devices. The first version of the District’s application provides users with information such as District meetings, station locations, fire prevention and medical information, as well as posting from the District’s social media platforms. The District anticipates adding more features in the future such as multi-language, adding the Districts financial portal (Opengov) and the ability to pay for plan reviews and fire permits directly from your smart phone. 

Burn_Permit_News_Release.pdf

 Contact: Fire Chief Chris Tubbs (415) 388-8182

For questions regarding survey methodology, contact pollster Curtis Below at FM3 Research (510) 451-9521

Mill Valley, CA – A recently commissioned independent survey shows Southern Marin Fire Protection District residents are extremely concerned about the excellent fire and emergency medical services they rely on.

The Marin County Training Officers Present Calm the Chaos! Mastering Fireground Command 2-Day Simulator & Hands-On Workshop

Today’s fireground should be a calm and orchestrated event, but often it is not! The NIOSH top 5 line of duty death operational causes on the fireground surround size up, command, communications, accountability and SOP's.

Participate in simulations and hands-on drills for house fires, garden/center hall apartments, commercial fire incidents and review actual inside-the-command-post incident video and audio to get answers to the following questions...

  Download PDF File Here

GET READY CLASS

Saturday, March 31, 2018 10 a.m. – Noon

In preparation for the Marin Drive Structure Protection Group’s

Evacuation Drill a free GET READY class will be given at the

You’re invited to attend a FREE 2-hour Class

Come learn why our communities are at great risk for a catastrophic fire and what you can do about it.  Learn how to create and implement attractive landscaping that complies with your Fire Department’s Defensible Space regulations.

The class also covers how to make your home more fire resistant and what you need to know to be ready to evacuate if needed.

The drill begins on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with an activation of the Alert Marin Telephone Emergency Notification System\ which is a reverse 9-1-1 dialing system that can be used to alert residents in the event of an emergency. If you have not signed up already, please do so prior to the drill at www.alertmarin.org. If you have difficulty signing up, contact the Mill Valley Fire Department at (415) 389-4130.

After you receive the emergency activation, please proceed to the Drill Command Center located in the Tamalpais High School parking lot at 700 Miller Avenue between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

On Friday, September 15, 2017, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm, Southern Marin Fire will be sponsoring a Blood Drive at Fire Station 4 located at 309 Poplar Street in Tam Valley.

Everyone who donates blood and provides their email address will be entered to win one of three Emergency Preparedness Kits. Winners of the Emergency Preparedness Kits will be announced at the Annual Open House on October 21, 2017.

For more information, please contact Captain Cary Gloeckner at (415) 380.1101 or by email at cgloeckner@smfd.org

Join instructor Chris Jelinek of Humboldt Bay FD January 24, 2017 to review Indoor Grow House and Butane Hash Hazards, and Response Considerations.

To register:

Email:landre@smfd.org

$25 Checks Payable to:

Southern Marin Fire District is honored to have Captain Mark VonAppen to present His Fully Involved Leadership Class on January 12, 2017. If you would like to attend, sign up today as space is limited.

Toy & Food Collection - LAST WEEKEND FOR DONATIONS

Southern Marin Fire is collecting toys and food for the Holiday Season. Food donations benefit the Marin-SF Food Band and all toy donations are distributed by the Salvation Army to families & children who live in Marin County. You may drop off donations of food and toys at any SMFD Fire station located at 308 Reed Boulevard in Strawberry, 309 Poplar Street in Tam Valley and 333 Johnson Street in Sausalito.

Toys and food will be collected until Wednesday, December 19th. 

Your donations and generosity can make the Holidays bright for families and kids!

Notice Inviting Interested Contractors for the 2017 Informal Bid List

In accordance with the State of California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Commission, the Southern Marin Fire Protection District is inviting all interested licensed contractors to submit their company for inclusion on the District's Informal Bidding Contractors List for calendar year 2017. 

Companies must resubmit to be included on the 2017 list even if your company has submitted an application in prior years.

Per California Public Contract Code 22032, any Public Works Project that is estimated to be below $175,000 is subject to the Informal Bidding Procedures set forth by the State of California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission. All trade categories are subject to Informal Bidding Procedures.

Read Press Release

PRESS RELEASE - MARIN HEADLANDS TUNNEL CLOSURE

Click Here to View the SMFD Newsletter November 2016

Citizens can drop off their unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs & vitamins at the Sausalito Fire Station on Caledonia Street everyday, and not just on National Prescription Take-Back Day.This is an important step in the fight against the prescription drug epidemic. When citizens properly discard their unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals, it keeps them out of the hands of anyone who may take them for recreational use. Let's be safe and keep dangerous, addictive drugs out of our kids hands. 

You can make a difference...Your actions can save the life of one young person or spare one family from the heartache of a prescription drug overdose!

Annual Open House 2016 Flyer

Are You Prepared for a Major Fire in Mill Valley?

Find Out Saturday, September 10, 2016

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Though that famous quote from philosopher George Santayana dates back to the early 1900s, it applies to Mill Valley in 2014 and our desire and ability to learn from the history of massive fires in Marin and the Bay Area, including the Vision Fire in West Marin in 1995.

SouthernMarinFireProtectionDistrict NoticeofBoardofDirectorVacancy

Southern Marin Fire Protection DistrictNotice of Board Vacancy

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board of Directors has an opening. The vacancy is for the first two (2) years of a 4-year term. Thereafter, the position is subject to reelection by the voters who reside within the District borders.

The Southern Marin Firefighters Association is selling their World Famous Tri-Tip Sandos and Firehouse Coleslaw, Lagunitas Beer & quality wine at the Jazz by the Bay Events in Sausalito at Friday, June 3, June 24, July 8. 

Sausalito’s summertime Jazz & Blues by the Bay concerts have become a legendary local favorite. Breathtaking views of Angel Island, San Francisco and the Bay provide the backdrop for this weekly celebration at Gabrielson Park in downtown Sausalito. 

Concerts start on Friday June 3rd and continue every Friday until August 26th and go from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Food and beverages are on sale by a different Sausalito Non-profit group each week. 

The free grass area seating fills up quickly, so come down early to save a spot. For more info: http://www.ci.sausalito.ca.us/Index.aspx... 

Sidewalk CPR Training provided by Southern Marin Fire personnel on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Strawberry Village in Mill Valley from 11am -1pm and at the Sausalito Ferry Terminal from 10am-2pm. Come by and learn this very effective technique.

Strategic Plan 2016-2020 Finalized and Approved by SMFD Board of Directors

At the February 24, 2016, Board Meeting, the Directors adopted the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan for the Fire District.  The plan includes Nine Strategic Initiatives that will guide the District towards its adopted Vision.

The Strategic Planning Process occurred over the past eight months, guided by an experienced and highly respected Facilitator.  The collaborative process included engagement with outside Stakeholders such as other government agencies, community groups and volunteers.  The engagement process included completing surveys on the District and its operations, as well as an interactive process with the Facilitator.

The final development element of the Strategic Planning Process was a five-day series of work sessions engaging key internal District employees.  Synthesizing the information gathered from external and internal stakeholders, the nine Strategic Initiatives, supporting objectives and critical tasks and timelines were developed.

Fill the Boot for MDA on Sunday, April 24, 2016 in Sausalito

Southern Marin Fire District firefighters will "Fill The Boot" for MDA this month! Last year, Marin Professional Firefighters Local 1775 raised $35,000 for MDA and this year the goal is $40K! Southern Marin and Mill Valley Fire raised a record $5,396.Help us help local families fighting neuromuscular disease! You can drop a donation into our boots at one of our roadside locations, or click the link (below) to donate. We need your help to break our record and help more families than ever in 2016!

LOCATIONS & DATES:Sunday April 24th Tiburon (Main St. at Tiburon Blvd.) 9am-3pmSausalito (Bridgeway at Princess) 9am-3pmNovato (Rowland Blvd & Vintage Way) 10am-3pmMonday April 25th San Anselmo (The Hub) 8am-1pmSan Rafael (Grand St. at 3rd & 2nd St.) 8am-1pm

CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINELocal 1775 MDA Fill the Boot - Donate Online

April is National Safe Digging Month and Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the Southern Marin Fire District urges all Californians to help stop dig-ins by making the free call to 811 at least two working days ahead of digging projects big and small.

Dig-ins cause damage to underground gas, electric, telecommunications and other infrastructure, which is one of the most serious threats to public safety. In 2015 alone, there were more than 1,600 dig-ins throughout PG&E’s service area.

The 811 one-call service is free, and it’s a requirement of California digging laws. Calling 811 ahead of projects can prevent tragedies like the 2015 third party transmission pipeline strikes that led to fatalities, injuries and property damage in Fresno and Bakersfield.

A call to 811 is the best safeguard and the first line of defense to preventing dig-ins. Callers are connected to their local 811 center that notifies the appropriate utility of their intent to dig. That utility operator sends a specially trained and qualified technician to the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint.

UPDATED: August 31, 2016

The Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD) received official confirmation that SMFD earned a new PPC from ISO and have been re-rated to a Class 1/1X, or more simply stated, a Class 1 Department.

Last year, ISO conducted a re-evaluation of Southern Marin Fire. Prior to this re-evaluation, SMFD was rated a PPC Class 3 for the District and a PPC Class 5 for the City of Sausalito.  The re-evaluation earned SMFD a Class Rating of 2/2X. 

After receiving the new PPC of 2/2X, Fire Chief Tubbs began to analyze the report, scoring and information and found several anomalies in the report. Chief Tubbs requested a meeting with ISO to understand these anomalies.  As a result of this meeting with ISO, it was discovered that SMFD received an incorrect credit for current daily minimum staffing levels.  The District’s ISO representative re-calculated the score and submitted an updated application.  As a result, the District received a new classification, achieving a Class 1 rating for the Southern Marin Fire District including the City of Sausalito. 

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District Welcomes A New Fire Truck to the Fire Fleet

Mill Valley, CA – Fire Chief Chris Tubbs, along with District’s Board of Directors will join the Department to commemorate the addition of a new fire truck with a special christening ceremony on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 10 a.m., at Fire Station 4, 309 Poplar Street, Tam Valley neighborhood, in Mill Valley.

The new Fire Engine will allow the District to provide better service with advanced firefighting technology that will benefit the residents and visitors of the District as well residents throughout Marin County due to current automatic and mutual aid agreements.

In celebration of the new replacement fire truck for Engine 4, the public is encouraged to participate in the customary tradition of transferring water from "old to new.” In the fire service, the act of transferring water represents life, as well as always being ready to protect. Once the water has been transferred from the old truck, the new engine's sirens will sound. The ceremony will also include the housing ritual which dates back to the 1800s when horses were used to pull fire engines. The neighborhood would assist with pushing the engine backward since the horses were ineffective at doing so.   

The Marin IJ published at article on Saturday, February 21, 2016 titled, “Lawsuit says fire district owes OT”. 

In response to this article the Fire District releases the following statement.

The District is confident that this matter will be resolved in a fair and reasonable manner for all parties, including the community.  It was determined last April that underpayments of past overtime were inadvertently and incorrectly calculated, according to Federal law.  Both the district and the Firefighters are working collaboratively to correct the error.  We anticipate that this matter will be resolved quickly and will not result in litigation. 

The community can be assured that they will continue to receive the highest quality services from the Fire District and its employees.

UPDATE FROM KATE: Seminary Interchange Improvements Soon To Be Constructed

What’s Happening at the Seminary Drive Interchange?

Last winter, I let you know about planned improvements coming to the Seminary Drive interchange. Here’s a recap of these improvements and a word about the construction soon to be underway.

The Seminary interchange project includes the intersection for the northbound (Seminary Drive) off ramp to Redwood Highway Frontage Road and the northbound on ramp to Highway 101.  Accident history at this location necessitated these improvements to give drivers better direction about how to proceed through the intersection safely.

Climate forecasters are predicting this winter’s El Niño to be among the largest on record. However, what that means for the Southern Marin area is unknown.

National Weather Service forecasters now say we are very likely to see normal winter rainfall, and a strong possibility of above-average rain. El Niño is not likely to end our drought.

Given Southern Marin’s history of severe weather events and damage, many residents are understandably concerned about what this winter holds. The Southern Marin fire District and our Partners are working closely together and are making these resources available to help residents protect themselves and their loved ones.

Information is available at this web page on our site: http://www.smfd.org/services/flooding-and-winter-storm-resources

Fire Prevention - Community Meeting

The Perfect Storm!!!

Wildland Fires + Homestead Valley

Homestead Valley Firewise* Community Day

Southern Marin Fire, Mill Valley Fire and firefighters throughout Marin County wear pink t-shirts in October to bring about breast cancer awareness.

On October 11, 2015, the Southern Marin Fire District hosted its Annual Open House event at all three fire stations, in support of Fire Prevention Week.

Thank you to all who donated pet & animal supplies for the victims of the Valley Fire. The Southern Marin Fire District is proud of Firefighters Brett Stone and Ian Hanson who spearheaded the pet donation drive. The District received so many items and are happy to report that all items were delivered them to the animal shelter near Middletown yesterday.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your generosity. Without community support, the District could not have collected so many much-needed pet & animal supplies. Kudos to Everyone!

COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN UPDATE: PUBLIC MEETINGS

You are invited!  Marin County Fire Department & FIRESafe MARIN are actively working to complete an update to the 2005 Marin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). We invite all interested parties to attend one of four CWPP public meetings:

October 12, 13, 14, 15

6:00PM - 7:30PM

The Southern Marin Fire District is holding it's 3rd Annual Open House on Sunday October 11th from Noon to 3:00 pm at all of the fire stations. 

Fire Station Locations

The public is invited to stop by, meet the firefighters and get a tour of the fire station. Educational demonstrations are scheduled at each fire station beginning at 2:00 pm.

Valley Fire Fundraiser

Like many in our community we have been moved by what we are seeing happen to our fellow Californians in the Valley Fire. Though we are out on the front lines battling these fires we return home feeling there is so much more that needs to be done and we believe we can collectively help.

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District is teaming up with our community to provide aid to the families in need in the area of the Valley Fire. Several agencies and private citizens have lent their support to people who have suffered losses due to the devastating fire. An area of tremendous need is with regards to pets and pet owners.

            The Southern Marin Fire Protection District is accepting donations of ALL PET RELATED ITEMS. Food/bowls, litter/litter boxes, kennels, beds, leashes, collars, over the counter flea and tick medications and anything else you can think of that will be helpful to a pet/pet owner. There has been a massive outpouring of donations to people in the affected area. We want to make sure that the pets are taken care of too.

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District recently responded to the Grand Jury Report - The Need for Labor Negotiation Transparency - Part II. Please click on the links below to access the Districts's official response.

Letter to Judge D'Opal

SMFD Grand Jury Response

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued a proclamation declaring September 2015 as “National Preparedness Month” in the State of California.

A third group of Southern Marin Firefighters have been deployed to battle wildland fires in California.  Deploying with a Strike Team of other agencies from Southern Marin, the group will likley be deployed for two weeks while fighting fires in the MAD River complex Fire.

The previous two deployed crews have returned and are back serving the Southern Marin Community. 

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the organization that evaluates fire protection in communities throughout the United States, providing a Fire Protection Class Rating (PPC) for each community in which building and property insurance premiums are based upon.

Southern Marin Fire District was last rated in 2000 and received a PPC rating of 3.  The City of Sausalito was a PPC 5 at their last re-rate in 2003.  The high...est PPC rating is Class 1, and the worst is Class 10.  Since these previous re-rates the City of Sausalito annexed into the District and the subsequent ratings will be combined into a single agency report.

The current review process will take several months and we will post our results once they have been published and adopted.

August 2015 Newsletter

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District is proud to present the SMFD Newsletter, August 2015 edition.  You will find many articles about the District's activities, projects and staff members.Please contact Susan Kim at skim@smfd.org if you have any questions or commentsHappy Reading!

Southern Marin Fire 2015 Eligibility List

Southern Marin Fire Protection District is seeking candidates for an Eligibility List (to be considered for prospective open firefighter/firefighter paramedic positions).

To be considered for this position, you must successfully pass the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) Entry-Level Firefighter Written Exam and be placed on the FCTC statewide list.  Please visit www.FCTConline.org to register for the upcoming exam (August 2015) and learn more about the exam process, requirements and scheduled exam locations/dates.  The Southern Marin Fire Protection District will receive a list of candidates from the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center and will notify candidates of their eligibility to apply for this position with first round interviews targeted for early September 2015. 

If you have previously taken the exam through the FCTC and are active on their list, your results will be accepted and you do not need to participate in another written exam.

Marin Drive Firewise Class 2015 

On July 18, 2015, Fire Captain Cary Gloeckner in conjunction with the newly created Marin Drive Firewise Community Leadership will be conducting a free wildfire defensible space class where he will teach homeowners how to survive a wildfire, prepare a home defensible space, discuss evacuation and shelter in place issues, describe and discuss what a Firewise Community is and how it will help to save lives and homes as well as introduce the volunteer core leadership of this brand new Firewise Community. 

 Captain Cary Gloeckner

The class will be in (3) 45 minute segments consisting of real wildfire footage that will change your perspective on how to protect your family and home from wildfire, case studies of home survival, a lesson on why your home was mapped as an Very High Fire Danger by the State of California and a lesson on the plan Captain Gloeckner has come up with to assess your home’s actual wildfire danger rating in order to create a new map that will more accurately depict your home’s threat from wildfire.  This is a must see presentation and it is completely free.

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District recently responded to the Grand Jury Report - A Case of Government Code Violations and a Lack of Transparency. Please click on the links below to access the Districts's official response.

SMFD Letter_Faye D'Opal, Presiding Judge

SMFD Response Civil Grand Jury Report - A Case of Government Code Violations and a Lack of Transparency

Southern Marin Fire Protection District has recently received a Pharmaceutical Waste Receptacle.  The Pharmaceutical Waste Container has been placed in the downstairs front lobby of the Sausalito Fire Station, 333 Johnson Street in Sausalito. It is designed for the public to have a safe place to discard old or unused medications.

Drop offs are available during the following hours:

Monday-Sunday 8:00am to 4:00pm  

On Saturday, July 18, 2015, a Firewise Marin Community Education Program will be held at Southern Marin Fire, Station 4 in Tam Valley from 9am to Noon. A potluck lunch to follow.

The program will teach the community:

6th Annual Sidewalk Hand-only CPR & AED TrainingA FREE Community-wide Hands-Only CPR and AED Training 

Learn to save a life at various locations throughout Marin on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Firefighters from the Southern Marin Fire District will be conducting the Hand-only CPR and AED Training at two locations, Strawberry Village Shopping Center and the Ferry Building in Sausalito.

Take a few minutes and learn how to save a life! Demonstrations and instructions are provided by local doctors, nurses, SMFD paramedics and firefighters. Anyone age 8 and up are welcome to participate.

For more information, visit www.MarinEMS.org.

On April 16, 2015 the Grand Jury of Marin County issued a report titled, “Pension Enhancements: A Case of Government Code Violations and A Lack of Transparency”. 

Upon receipt of the Report the District’s Board of Directors and Interim Fire Chief immediately set in motion the required legal analysis in preparation for responding to the Grand Jury Report as prescribed by law. 

This analysis is underway but until a thorough investigation is complete, the Board of Directors and Interim Fire Chief felt it was imperative to communicate with our constituents in regards to the Grand Jury Report, and the actions the Fire District is taking.  We want to assure you that your elected officials and Fire District executive staff are following the prescribed steps, ensuring compliance with all regulations related to the Grand Jury Process and the Ralph H. Brown Act, in our analysis and subsequent responses.  This has resulted in the accompanying statement from the Board of Directors and Interim Fire Chief to the community.

The Board of the Southern Marin Fire District is happy to share this statement with you and has also submitted the statement to local media outlets, as well as authorized its release on the District’s Social Media sites. Once the Grand Jury analysis is complete, the District will share the finding from the analysis with the community as well.

WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard is scheduled to release its first boating safety App Saturday as the kickoff to this year's National Safe Boating Week.

The Boating Safety Mobile app was not designed to replace a boater's marine VHF radio, which the Coast Guard strongly recommends all boaters have aboard their vessels. The app was mainly designed to provide additional boating safety resources for mobile device users.

The app will be available on the Apple and Google Play online stores.

Features of the app include: state boating information; a safety equipment checklist; free boating safety check requests; navigation rules; float plans; and calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity.  When location services are enabled, users can receive the latest weather reports from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoys as well as report the location of a hazard on the water.

Beginning at 10p.m. on May 28th until 5 a.m. on June 1, Doyle Drive will be completely shut down for construction. The closure is expected to have significant impacts on traffic and experts are encouraging drivers to find alternative routes or avoid driving in the area all together.

The four day closure will shut down traffic from Doyle Drive at the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge. The closure is needed for construction crews to complete the connections and transfer traffic to the new permanent roadway, which includes the new Main Post Tunnels, northbound Battery Tunnel, northbound high viaduct and restored connections to Highway 1 / Park Presidio.

For more information:

http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20150512/doyle-drive-closure-to-wreak-havoc-on-marin-commute

UPDATE: Saturday's Battle of the Bay hockey game was a huge success! The Northbay Guns n Hoses Hockey team was victorious, winning the hockey game 4-2 against the Oakland Fire Department's hockey team. The event was well attended by firefighters from many different fire agencies, players' families and citizens of Vacaville. The event raised nearly $30,000 to benefit the Miley McCrary Angel Fund. The hockey players wore a purple shamrock logo on their helmets to honor Miley and many of the players shaved their heads to show their support.

Marin Firefighters Tom Moran and Ben Powers, co-founders of the Northbay Guns n Hoses Hockey Club, are part of spearheading a fundraiser for the daughter of a fellow firefighter from the Oakland Fire Department who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. The Mission of the Hockey Club is to raise monies to provide financial assistance to fellow firefighters and police officers in times of need.

The Marin County area is surrounded by water and both the Marin County Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire District are responsible for and respond to a variety of water based incidents each year.  Ensuring that our firefighters are well trained and highly comfortable in water environments is critical to our operations.

Today the Southern Marin Fire District and Marin County Fire Department began their first week of a regional firefighter recruit academy. The Recruit Academy is ten weeks in duration and provides a basic foundation for new firefighters. Regional Fire Academies provide an economical method to train firefighters from many agencies, at one time, thereby eliminating duplication as well as ensuring that they are all taught the same processes and procedures. The Academy is a carefully orchestrated process that prescribes every moment of activity while the student is learning.

This photo shows the students first class picture with their Instructors.

Provided by The National Safety Council​ 

Commit a couple of hours, or the entire day and join others throughout the nation making communities a safer place to live on Saturday, May 2, 2015.  Challenge friends, family members, a faith-based groups or youth organization to create a project and accomplish something great together!  

Efforts will raise wildfire awareness and help protect homes, neighborhoods and entire communities, while increasing safety for wildland firefighters during future wildfires; or your project could lessen current post-fire impacts.

NFPA is pleased to announceState Farm®, the largest home insurer in the United States, has provided funding forsixty-five $500 project funding awardsto implement projects on May 2. State Farm has a long history of proactive wildfire safety education to its policyholders in high-risk regions and NFPA is proud to partner with State Farm on this national wildfire safety campaign.

Applying for a project funding award is easy and takes only a few minutes:

Firefighters can often be seen conducting training exercises that mimic events that they must often respond to. These exercises provide firefighters with the opportunity to practice and perfect their skills, and to do it in a controlled environment. In this photo Southern Marin firefighters at Fire Station 9 practice vehicle stabilization techniques using a variety of tools, including struts. Stabilizing overturned or unstable vehicles is a critical first step in providing aid to medical patients.

Southern Marin residents and friends of Southern Marin Fire we wanted to give you an update on the predicted storm which was shared to us by the California Office of Emergency Services.

The incoming storm has been predicted to deliver rain totals as high as 10” in the higher elevations by the end of the events sometime Monday. The storm is anticipated to come in two waves with the first wave arriving Thursday and lasting through Friday, and into Saturday with the heaviest rain on Friday (6-8” totals in higher elevations). They are predicting a slight break on Saturday and then the arrival of a second smaller event on Sunday (1-3” totals in higher elevations). The storm total prediction for most urban areas is 1.5 to 3”. The only change in the forecast is the rain will spread father down the coast south and the wind speeds have increased a bit so there may be some trees down and power outages with the potential for down power line. Residents are advised to never approach a down power line and always assume they are energized. In addition, some localized flooding may occur in the lower areas prone to flooding. As of today the NWS hydrologists are not predicting critical levels in the Marin creeks, but please remember that these areas are very dangerous due to the moving water and should be avoided by all ages. Fire District personnel will be keeping an eye on creek gauges throughout the storms in an effort to forecast any potential issues. The following advisories and watches are in effect:

Flash Flood Watch in effect from February 5, 10:00 PM PST until February 7, 06:00 AM PST

Wind Advisory in effect from February 6, 04:00 AM PST until February 7, 04:00 AM PST

Do you that every year 795,000 people suffer a stroke in our country and that it is the leading cause of long term disability?

Do you know the signs of a someone having a stroke? If a person gets to a hospital quick enough much of the damage can often be reversed.

Look at this graphic and remember F.A.S.T. Call 911 if you see someone showing signs of having a stroke. You can save a life.

Beginning the week of February 2, 2015, and for a two week period, PG&E will be driving through the communities and neighborhoods of Southern Marin with a highly sensitive gas monitoring vehicle.  The monitor is a highly sensitive detector mounted to a vehicle, which is one thousand times more sensitive then PG&E's normal gas detection meters.  There are a total of eight of these vehicles in PG&E's fleet for California.

PG&E uses this new technology to detect gas leaks long before they become a major problem.  The sensors are mounted on top of a PG&E vehicle and the vehicle drives through the neighborhood at about 15 mile per hour.  The PG&E vehicle is a Ford Escape, hybrid.  This vehicle is supported by other PG&E staff who can follow up on detections of possible leaks. 

PG&E works very closely with Fire Service Agencies.  On January 25, 2015, PG&E and multiple public safety agencies, including Southern Marin Fire District and Mill Valley Fire, met with PG&E staff to review the program and vehicle, and discussed how this vehicle and service would integrate into emergency operations.

At the January 28, 2015 Board Meeting, Interim Fire Chief Tubbs, administered the Oath of Office to Fire Inspector Ryan Boykin.  Ryan works in the Fire Prevention Bureau under the direction of the Deputy Fire Marshal, Fred Hilliard.  

Inspector Boykin comes from a Fire Service family; his father is the former Fire Chief for Hayward, CA Fire Department and his mother is the founder of Boykin Consulting Services, a company who provides inspection services associated with hazardous materials and fire prevention.  Ryan brings a passion for Fire Prevention to the District and plans to make Fire Prevention and Fire Investigation a career.  

For the first time in its 77-year history, the Golden Gate Bridge will be closed for construction.

The Bridge will be closed for 52 hours over the second weekend of January 2015. The Bridge will close at 12:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10th, 2015.  It will reopen at 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 12th, 2015.

During this weekend, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District will install a Moveable Median Barrier on the Bridge and its approaches.  The Barrier is expected to provide a safer system of separating opposing lanes of traffic, which will virtually eliminate the possibility of head-on collisions.

The Bridge District urges the public to stay away from the Bridge area during this weekend.  If travel between San Francisco and the North Bay Area is necessary, here are some options to get to your destination:

Firefighters Travis Fox and Mike Coleman spearheaded an effort to raise funds from the Southern Marin Firefighters Association and individual members of the Fire District, for the purchase of ten bicycles that could be donated to the North Bay Children’s Center. Motivated by their desire to give a helping hand to those less fortunate, District personnel were clearly successful in making a difference in the lives of ten young children who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the experiences associated with learning to ride and be with their friends.

The attached photo shows Captain Sullivan and his crew, FF/Eng. Vollmer, Coleman and Boaz, and FF/PM Golden with several of the kids who received their new bikes.

The Fire Marshal's Office, located at Fire Station 1 in Sausalito, will be closed during the Christmas and New Years holidays.  The Office will be closed beginning December 25th, 2015 through January 5th, 2015.  If you need to make contact with the Fire Marsha's Officel, messages can be left on the Fire Marshal's Voice Mail (415) 289-4163 and they will be returned after January 5th..  In the event of an emergency please dial 911.

At 07:07 hours this morning, firefighters from Southern Marin Fire, Mill Valley Fire and Marin County Fire were dispatched to a reported structure fire at the Burger King Restaurant in Marin City. First arriving units noted smoke coming from the roof. Firefighters quickly discovered a small fire behind the parapet wall due to a possible electrical malfunction. The fire was quickly extinguished and the electric circuit de-energized. Damaged was contained to the parapet wall near the malfunctioned electric outlet.

NEW ADVISORY: Forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds developing late Wednesday and continuing through Friday. North Bay rainfall could exceed 5 inches on the windward side of the coast range. 3-5 inches of rain is possible locally. Heavy rain should be expected Thursday night as well. Possible impacts include trees uprooted, power lines down, flooding, mudslides, and traffic impacts.

The Southern Marin Fire District strongly encourages businesses and residents to prepare for the upcoming storm. The following lists potential issues and resources available to help you prepare for the many issues this storm may present. Flooding – If your home or business is in a low-lying area with a history of flooding, please take the time now to prepare for the possibility of flooding: 

Power Outages

Downed Trees and Limbs:

This morning at approximately 0300 hours, the Southern Marin area was hit with major rainfall that resulted in significant flooding issues. Firefighters from Mill Valley, Southern Marin, Tiburon and Marin County responded to several events in the region. Local weather stations reported rainfall of 1.6 inches over a three hour period.

Firefighters responded to both businesses and homes that were impacted by flooding as a result of the heavy rainfall. One area that sustained significant flooding included the Cove Shopping Center that reportedly had over three inches of standing water in the parking lot. A number of homes were also impacted, and damage varied depending on location.

Firefighters continue to work with businesses and residents in assisting mitigation efforts and will likely be responding to additional impacts from the weather today.

NOAA predicts that weather for the remainder of the day include a high tide at approximately 0900 this morning, as well as ongoing rainfall for the remainder of the day. Regular weather updates can be found at NOAA's website: www.noaa.gov/wx.html.

According to NOAA, A series of storm systems will impact the Bay Area starting this Friday and continuing through early next week. The weaker of the two storms will bring rain initially to the Bay Area Friday afternoon and then spreading southward through Saturday evening. The second stronger storm will impact the Bay Area Sunday through early Tuesday bringing heavier rainfall and possibly gusty winds.

On Friday, November 17, 2014, Southern Marin FD Firefighters from Fire Station 4 again partnered with the United States Marine Corps, and Radio Station ALICE, for the annual Toys for Tots drive.  District Firefighters participated in this worthy cause last year and as the photos show, it was a huge success.

Firefighters from Mill Valley, Marin County and Southern Marin Fire District responded to a reported structure fire in Mill Valley.  Upon arrival firefighters were able to quickly determine that all occupants were out of the house, and were then able to contain and extinguish the fire in the room of origin - a small office/den area.  Damage was moderate and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

After thirty-seven years of selfless public service, Chief Jim Irving was recongnized today by Southern Marin Fire District personnel, friends, and other regional fire service partners as he completes his last active duty shift with the District.  On duty staff lowered the colors at Station 9 and presented them to Chief Irving in recognition of his service and final duty shift to the District.  The days events were at times festive and celebratory, and at times emotionally charged as the significance of this occasion was felt by all.  The District, and Marin County Fire Service Community is exceedingly grateful to Chief Irving and his wife Trudy, for their dedication and love of this organization, the Marin County region and the fire service community.  Best wishes to Chief Irving and Trudy as they embark on a new adventure. 

At the November 19, 2014 Board Meeting, Chief Irving, in his final promotional ceremony as the District's Fire Chief, administers the Oath of Office to (L-R) Deputy Chief Chris Tubbs, Battalion Chief Kai Pasquale, and Captain Doug Paterson.  The three were recently appointed to their new positions for the Southern Marin Fire District.

Southern Marin Firefighters participate in a training exercise with other members (Marin County Fire, Southern Marin Fire, Kentfield Fire and NPS), of the Marin County Water Rescue Team at Coast Guard Station Golden Gate.

It's more than a piece of clothing—it's a statement that you won't stand for the tragic toll breast cancer takes on lives.

Few sights grab the public's eye like a fire fighter dressed in bright pink. But all across the United States and Canada, IAFF members are suiting up in pink to fight breast cancer—just one of the many ways fire fighters show support for the fight against breast cancer.

Southern Marin Firefighters participated in this nation-wide campaign. 

HALLOWEEN SAUSALITO

October 31st, Caledonia and Johnson4:30 pm- BBQ at the Fire Station on Johnson Street5:45 pm- Parade Line6:00 pm- Caledonia Street Halloween Parade6:30 pm- Trick or Treat Lane at City Hall 6:30 pm- Haunted House

Put on your frightful, funny and fantastic costume and meet all your friends at the Firehouse (corner of Johnson and Caledonia) at 5:45pm on October 31. All Goblins and Ghouls will make the march down Caledonia Street to Robin Sweeny Park where Trick or Treat Lane will be open. Don’t forget to visit the Haunted House in the Edgewater Room at City Hall. The Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat Lane are sponsored by the Sausalito Parks and Recreation Department.

If you want your business or group to participate in Trick or Treat Lane, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 415.289.4152.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES?

…to survive a Disaster in your home for 5 to 7 days!

 The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled the ninth National Prescription Drug Take-back Day that will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 10 am to 2 pm.  The Mill Valley Police Department is proud to be partnering again with DEA for this event and will hold the collection event in the police station parking lot at 1 Hamilton Drive (across from Hauke Park).

In the eight previous Take-back events, DEA in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, have collected more than 2 million pounds of prescription medications and removed them from circulation.  The National Take-back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential abuse of these medications.

The Mill Valley Police Department has a collection container in the station lobby for the disposal of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs.  The container can be accessed Monday -  Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.  Drug disposal addresses a vital public safety and health issue in that medicines that languish in your home are often susceptible to theft and abuse. 

On behalf of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Tubbs as our new Deputy Chief. He will begin on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Chief Tubbs comes to us from Mercer Island Fire in Washington State. He has been Chief of Mercer Island Fire Department for the Last six and a half years.

Chief Tubbs was selected after a comprehensive search process with many excellent candidates. The Board believes that he will be an excellent fit with the vision and culture of Southern Marin Fire. 

Chief Tubbs was raised on Mercer Island. He began working for the Fire Department in 1978 while still a senior at Mercer Island High School, eventually being hired as a fulltime firefighter in 1982.  He is highly-respected among peers for his level-headed guidance, and his knowledge and eagerness to experiment with improvements to operations, always with an eye on providing exceptional public service. He is looking forward relocating to the Bay Area to be closer to Family and to meeting and working with the men and women of Southern Marin.   

Sign up NOW for 2014 Fall Get Ready Classes

In case of an earthquake, public safety officials recommend having enough food and water to last up to 7 days. If we have a catastrophic fire, you may need to evacuate in 10 minutes or less. GET READY is a free 2 hour class, sponsored by the Southern Marin Fire District that teaches you how to prepare your home and family for all types of emergencies. 

  EMERGENCY RADIOAUTHORITY (MERA) – NEXT GENERATION:  REQUEST TO SUPPORT AND ENDORSE A PARCEL TAXTO FUND THE NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC SAFETYCOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 

What is Marin County’s Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) used for?

What, if any, of my contact information do you already have in the current telephone emergency notification system for me?

Why am I being asked to use the Self Registration Portal?

Tam Valley, like much of Southern Marin, is classified as a "very high risk" wildfire area.   Wildfires of similar magnitude to the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire, or the 1995 Mt. Vision fire in Inverness, are possible here.  May 9 is the 10th anniversary of the 12-acre "Mother's Day" fire in the eucalyptus grove on GGNRA land in western Tam Valley. 

TCSD and Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD) are taking steps to help Tam Valley residents understand the fire risk in their neighborhoods and to implement changes to reduce that risk. Specifically:

Most Tam Valley neighborhoods will get this Chipper Day service in late April or early May 2014. This service will be provided to any remaining neighborhoods later in the year. Residents in each neighborhood will receive a postcard in the mail at least two weeks prior, and it will include all the participation details. Acceptable materials are brush, tree trimmings less than 6 inches in diameter (any length accepted), but we will NOT accept vines like blackberry or poison oak. 

In order to keep areas clear and to minimize fire risk, we encourage residents to not begin any significant work until you know the scheduled date for your street. Detailed information showing the dates, along with a map and list of streets will be posted on the TCSD website (www.tcsd.us).

The below article was written by Jim Irving, Fire Chief of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District and president of the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association and it was published in the Marin Independent Journal on November 16, 2013 on the Opinion page, Marin Voice section.

Combining Critical Priorities in Marin's Open Space Land

THE REASON many of us live in Marin County is the beauty and natural landscape that exists right outside our doors.

We shouldn't forget, though, that much of our surrounding beauty is fuel for a potentially devastating wildfire, one of the largest single risks we face of life and property loss. The fire service professionals in the county are challenged with protecting life, property and the environment, a job we take very seriously.

Southern Marin Fire (SMFD) firefighters participated in the 2013 Urban Shield on October 25-28. Urban Shield is a 48-hour training exercise that trains local, national, and international first responder agencies to prepare for and provide a unified response to disasters and major emergencies. Participant included three major cities (Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose) and ten counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma), and more than 100 incorporated cities.

SMFD had four personnel on three teams in the Urban Shield event, Swift Water Rescue Team 11, Marin County Regional Task Force Team #1 & the Marin County Hazardous Materials team. The Marin County Regional Task Force Team #1 won 2^nd place overall in the event behind MinnesotaTask Force Team #1. The teams were evaluated on core competencies which are designed to test their abilities in differing situations that will require effective communication and development of incident action plans. The training encourages collaborative interaction with other specialized teams and disciplines, law enforcement and/or role players. Scenarios are designed to provide teams with events that are fast paced, dynamic and increasingly encountered by first responders in this era.

The Southern Marin Fire District congratulates all the teams and the four SMFD firefighters who participated on their successful participation in the training exercise.

Do you have questions about your property tax bill?

There is a charge for $45 or $90 on my tax bill, What is it for?

In 1996 and 1997, residents of the former Alto-Richardson Bay and Tamalpais Fire Protection Districts voted to implement a parcel/unit tax to make up for local property taxes that were shifted to the State to augment education. With the consolidation of those two fire districts, property taxes are now charged by the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. That tax provides for the District to charge up $90.00 per unit on an improved parcel, $45.00 per unimproved parcel and up to $.012 per square foot on commercial buildings.

After a number of school districts were found to be charging floating homes and mobile homes inappropriately, the County Assessor’s Office asked that all districts review their taxes with their legal counsel to make certain that they were charging appropriately.

On 6/4/13 at 2:30 am, Southern Marin Fire responded to a rock slide & automobile accident. On scene, firefighters encountered a rock slide that covered northbound Highway 101 just prior to the Spencer Avenue exit. An vehicle ran into a large rock from the rock slide and the driver sustained minor injuries. 

Southern Marin Defensible Space Education

Ready Set Go is a simple program that reinforces key points vital to survival in Marin's hillside communities during fire season.

Visit www.readysetgomarin.org for details.

On Monday, May 4, 2013, Southern Marin Fire will be participating in the Wildland SKills Multi Agency Drill (MAD) from 8am to 1pm. MAD will simulate a wildland fire impacting the City of Mill Valley. Mill Valley Fire and Marin County Fire will also be participating.

The MAD training will coincide with the City of Mill Valley Neighborhood Evacuation Drill.

There will be 15-20 fire engines involved in this MAD training on May 4th, so if you see many first responders & fire engines in your neighborhood, Please Do Not Be Alarmed!This is just a training drill

Many residents in our unincorporated area began receiving a Fire Prevention Fee tax bill per Assembly Bill X 129. This fee, $150 or $115, is charged to all property owners that are in what is known as SRA (State Responsibility Area). THe SRA includes most of the unicorporated area in the district. This does not apply to residents of the City of Sausalito or within the Town of Tiburon.

This tax is not a Southern Marin Fire District tax. The District does not receive benefit from this bill. The Southern Marin Fire Protection District Board of Directors has officially opposed this bill and this fee.

Citizens are encouraged to pay the fee before the 30 day late fee is applied.

You can protest by contacting your state elected officials and can petition for redemption at www.firepreventionfee.org.

Our new website was launched late summer 2012 to provide easier access to the services of Southern Marin Fire Protection.  Our goal is to quickly answer any questions or concerns raised by residents and visitors to our district, with accesible and organized web based information technology.

At its June 28th Board Meeting, the Southern Marin Fire District interviewed four candidates after which the Board appointed two Sausalito representatives; one to an open full-voting position (due to Board member Doug Wriston's resignation in May), and one non-voting Ad Hoc seat the District Board offered to the residents of Sausalito if the annexation was approved by the voters. The Board appointed Peter Van Meter (a former City Council Member) to fill the full voting vacancy, and former Sausalito Police Chief, Stephen Willis (who also served temporarily as Fire Chief), to the Ad Hoc position. Both new members were sworn in June 28, 2012. The Board bumped its normal fourth Wednesday meeting to Thursday to provide time for the election results to be certified by the Registrar of Voters and by the Local Agency Commission, without which the appointments could not have been made. Just under the wire, the Registrar's office gave the District its certification on June 24th, followed by LAFCO's certification on June 26th. The campaign over the annexation, also known as "Measure D," resulted in approval by an almost two-thirds majority of Sausalito citizens. The Board and the Fire Chief are reaching out to the residents of Sausalito now that we are One. These new appointments will give Sausalito immediate representation prior to the next election on the Southern Marin Fire Board. The new Board Members will need to run for office at the November of 2013 election. Those who would like more information may use the following contact numbers: Chief Jim Irving 415-388-8182 Clerk of the Board, Susan Kim 415-388-8182

Southern Marin Fire Protection District has entered a new joint powers agreement with the Town of Corte Madera. Under the agreement, the two agencies will share personnel. Initially the two agencies will share a battalion chief position. The arrangement would save Corte Madera about $135,000 a year and Southern Marin approximately $60,000. The two agencies expect that as more chief officers retire, more positions will be shared.

Sausalito voters will be able to weigh in on whether to merge the Sausalito Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District, but a date has not been set for an election. The Sausalito City Council — which received a briefing at its Tuesday meeting — has called a special meeting for March 9 to consider putting the matter to voters as soon as the June 5 primary election. The item also could also go to a mail-in ballot in late August or be put on the Nov. 6 ballot. The first step will be for the Local Agency Formation Commission to call for an election via a resolution at its March 8 meeting. Sausalito residents signed petitions to call for an election on the fire merger, which had been approved by the council and LAFCO.

The Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved the annexation of the area of the City of Sausalito into the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. The annexation is not yet complete and must still go through a Public Protest phase. Registered voters or property owners within the Sausalito City limits may file a protest with LAFCO. If less than 25% of voters or property owner protest, LAFCO will likely certify the annexation in their January meeting and it will become effective soon after that. If more than 25%, but less than 50% file protests, the annexation question will go the Sausalito voters for approval. If more than 50% file protests, the annexation process is canceled. For more information on the annexation effort, you may click below.

Southern Marin Fire District now has Facebook and Twitter accounts. In an effort to communicate better with our community, the fire district has created these social media options. This will provide citizens with information and news regarding the District's daily operations, information on special events, and specific instructions and news in the event of a local emergency or large scale disaster.  Please come visit out sites by clicking on the links provided.

The 18-month project - which is a continuation of the fire-safe program started in 2005 - begins after Oct. 1 and will allow the district to inventory fire-susceptible lands in Tamalpais Valley, work with homeowners and agencies to do fire risk evaluations with partners at the Southern Marin Fire District, establish area homeowner groups and coordinate efforts with state and county agencies.

Project Manager Jim Kasper will oversee the program and can be reached at 388-6393.