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Prepare your home for Fire Season!
State law now requires homeowners to clear combustible vegetation 100 feet from structures to help us help you in the event of a wildfire.
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Marin County Fire Department first provided Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the citizens of Marin in 1965, when a Cadillac ambulance was stationed in Point Reyes. The community of Point Reyes, led by Waldo Giacomini, provided the funding for the first ambulance and its equipment. The American Red Cross trained personnel assigned to the ambulance in advanced first aid.
In 1977, nine firefighters from the department were sent to Stanford University for paramedic training. In April of 1978, Rescue 90 was placed in service in Point Reyes, becoming the first paramedic rescue ambulance in Marin County. This "emergency room on wheels" brought advanced life support services to West Marin. Paramedics received over 1200 hours of training including: anatomy, physiology, cardiac emergencies, advanced airway procedures and over fifty medications that they could administer. To support the Paramedic Program, in 1982 all Marin County Fire Department firefighters became Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).
In 1985, in response to a request by the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority, Marin County Fire Department assumed administration and staffing of Rescue 40, a paramedic stationed at the Ross Fire Station. This Joint Powers Authority provides paramedic services to residents and visitors of the communities of Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow, Fairfax, and County Service Area 27. Rescue 40 responds to approximately 1500 calls per year. The addition of Rescue 40 benefits the department by providing a rescue unit with a higher call volume, allowing paramedics an opportunity to maintain their vital skills.
Constantly looking to provide cutting edge EMS, in 1995 the Marin County Fire Department trained all firefighters to use Automatic External Defibrillators (AED). Each Marin County fire engine is now equipped with this life saving cardiac tool, which allows first responders to convert patients in full cardiac arrest into a life saving cardiac rhythm.
The Marin County Fire Department EMS Division administers an EMT education program. This program allows firefighters to maintain their certification in-house, at a lower cost than sending personnel to outside training. The department offers EMT training to the Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Inverness, and Tomales Volunteer Fire Departments. Personnel from the Marin Municipal Water District, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, National Park Service, Skywalker Ranch, and Muir Woods National Monument, also attend this monthly training.
To increase the EMS level of service in the Tomales area, Marin County Fire Department implemented an Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic engine in the fall of 1997. This brings a firefighter-paramedic and lifesaving equipment to visitors and citizens of Tomales. ALS transport ambulances in Tomales are provided under contract from Bodega Bay and Petaluma Fire Departments.
Marin County Fire Department recently implemented a Continuous Quality Improvement, CQI, program, which provides peer review of the ALS system. New protocols, in conjunction with the CQI program, allow paramedics to provide more advanced care for patients, without base hospital direction. This program provides continuous monitoring, improvement, and systems analysis of the paramedic service.
In 2000, the department began operating a paramedic rescue unit at Stinson Beach. This unit is staffed during the peak tourist season, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Marin County Fire Department operates four paramedic rescue ambulances, with a reserve rescue unit stationed in Woodacre (that can be staffed when needed), and two ALS engines. The twenty-two paramedics have an average of ten years of experience, many coming from high-call- volume urban areas. The paramedics and EMTs receive extensive training in hazardous materials, rope rescue, swift water rescue, confined space rescue, auto extrication and multi-casualty incidents.
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| Captain Ruben Martin Returns Home | Injured Fire Captain Ruben Martin was released from John Muir Medical Center, and is now at home with his family, recovering from severe injuries sustained in an on-duty accident February 11, 2008. MCFD wishes to thank the community and fire service for their outpouring of support.
| | MCFD & MCFDFA Golf Tournament 2008 |
The Ron Thomas Memorial Golf Tournament at the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course in San Geronimo on May 13th, 2008. This fun-filled day is one of the most enjoyed and talked about events. While enjoying good food, drinks, prizes and a little friendly competition, this event is one of the biggest fundraisers for The Associated Airtanker Pilots Memorial Fund, and contributes to an annual donation to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.
Each year money in the AAP Memorial Fund is used to aid the families of fallen air attack who have passed away in the line of duty. Many of these pilots throughout the nation do not receive PSOB (Public Safety Officers Benefits). AAP does what they can to assist when tragedy occurs.
For more information regarding this event, email: MCFDgolf@comcast.net or call Kellie at (415) 507-2731 or Breanna at (415) 302-5568.
| | Captain Martin's Condition Improves |
Fire Captain Ruben Martin's condition has improved, and he is now in serious but stable condition. Doctors at John Muir Medical Center have moved him from the ICU, and expect further improvement in his condition. Marin County Fire Department wishes to express our heartfelt thanks for all of the support Ruben, his family, and MCFD have received from the community and fire-service.
| | Fire Captain Critically Injured |
Marin County Fire Department Fire Captain Ruben Martin was critically injured Monday, February 11 while on duty. He was airlifted to the level 2 trauma center at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, where he is currently listed in critical but stable condition.
Information on blood drives and other ways to help Captain Martin is available at 415-499-6717.
| | James "Skip" Craddock: Condolences | Marin County Fire Department expresses our sincere condolences to the family of "Skip" Craddock. Skip Passed away unexpectedly January 30, 2007. A long-time HFEO with MCFD, Skip retired in 2000. His smile, warmth and generosity will never be forgotten by his extended MCFD family.
| | New Type 3 Engine Delivered |
Marin County Fire Department took delivery of a 2007 International 4x4 Type 3 engine, built by Hi-Tech Emergency Vehicles of Oakdale, California. 
The new engine carries 500 gallons of water in a stainless steel tank, a 500 GPM PTO pump, foam-pro class A foam system and a full complement of wildland firefighting equipment.
The new engine will grace an edition of Grebenikoff Vineyards Fire Engine Red wine label to be released winter 2007.
| | Edward Kelly - Condolences | Marin County Fire Department expresses our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of recently retired Ross Valley Fire Captain Edward "Ed" Kelly. Ed will always be remembered for his gregarious warmth and endless generosity.
Ed passed away following a long fight with job-related cancer November 27, 2007.
Ed Kelley 1946-2007
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Marin Professional Firefighters Local 1775. Please check www.iaff1775.org for updated funeral information.
| | Marin Firefighters Make Tough Choices |
By Tim Thompson. Battalion Chief, MCFD
IN HIS MARIN Voice column ( Marin Independent Journal) of Oct. 28, Marin County Fire Chief Ken Massucco mentioned the strike teams and personnel sent by several local Marin fire departments to fight the Southern California firestorms. Once again, the issue of which house burns and which house survives during a wildfire was made painfully apparent to those of us who were there.
On Oct. 21, the Marin County Fire Department sent personnel and resources, including a strike team of five engines and two leaders.
Our strike team was assigned to the Harris Fire, burning near the communities of Potrero, Jamul, Tecate and Chula Vista. The Santa Ana winds driving the fire were among the strongest recorded in the area, with gusts of more than 80 mph. By the time the strike team arrived around midnight on Oct. 21, the fire had run more than 10 miles and was burning on both sides of Highway 94, killing one civilian, burning over a state fire engine and destroying numerous structures. Four firefighters were burned, two of them critically.
Over the next 48 hours, the fire ran through rural neighborhoods similar to the hills of Marin.
The strike team was given the assignment to access the Honey Springs Road area and "save as many homes as you can." As wescouted out ahead of the engines, we had some tough decisions to make. Based on the extreme fire conditions, we had to be very selective when it came to assigning an engine to make a stand at a house. This was primarily for firefighter safety, but also because we wanted to utilize our limited resources where we had a high probability of success.
As difficult as it was, we drove by houses that homeowners had neglected, where debris was stored under decks, vegetation was growing right up to the house and driveways were overgrown. We selected those structures where the home-owner had taken the time to create defensible space for us.
The battle to get people out and save homes went on through the night and the next day. Each engine company engaged the fire at structures in various levels of fire involvement, making tough saves. They cut burning decks and eaves away from homes, ripped burning siding off houses and used well-placed hose lines to protect structures before igniting.
We went back and surveyed the scene a few days later. The majority of the homes we had protected were still standing. A number of homes had burned, including some with defensible space. This was a result of two primary factors:
- First, California's firefighting resources were spread among 15 major fires burning simultaneously.
- Second, this was Mother Nature at her worst, with extreme fire conditions that tested even the most fire-hardened structures.
Wildfires commonly throw burning embers a half-mile ahead of the main fire, starting new fires in advance of the main fire. This may make the required 100-foot defensible space around a home seem to be a futile effort. It isn't. Dealing with the ember showers and the resulting spot fires from a home with defensible space is far more desirable to an engine company than withstanding the oncoming flame front from a home without it. If firefighters have to choose, the choice will be the house where the homeowner has created a survivable environment.
In a recent Marin Voice article in the IJ, the writer asserted that "Fires do not respect 'defensible spaces.'" Defensible space and vegetation management aren't the only factors determining a structure's survival in a wildfire, but as we have seen firsthand year after year, it greatly increases your odds.
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To
provide the highest level of life and property protection
through aggressive fire control, integrated pre-hospital
care, fire prevention, public education and emergency
management. |
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Ken
Massucco,
Fire Chief
(415) 499-6717
Rich Lopez,
Deputy Chief
(415) 499-6717
Battalion Chiefs
(415) 499-6717
Fax (415) 507-2969
Brian Meuser,
Training
(415) 499-3742
Mike Giannini, EMS
(415) 507-2595
Scott Alber,
Fire Marshal
(415) 499-6566
Fax (415) 499-4246
Kent Julin,
Forester
(415) 499-3759
Fax (415) 499-4246
Tim Walsh,
Fire Crew
(415) 717-1521
Phoenicia Thomas, Finance
(415) 507-2631
Kellie Moore, Finance
(415) 507-2731 |
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