Marin County Fire Department

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 - 1945-2007

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.

1 - 8