Marin County Fire Department

08/28/2026

This National Emergency Management Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Marin County Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the people working behind the scenes year-round to help keep our community prepared.

Through evacuation exercises, preparedness training, planning, and community outreach, OEM works every day to help Marin County be better prepared - and better positioned to protect people when an emergency occurs.
The team develops and updates emergency plans that help reduce the impacts of disasters, identifies ways to make our communities more resilient, and secures grant funding to support mitigation projects that can make a real difference before an emergency happens. In partnership with local Fire and Police agencies, OEM sends critical notifications through AlertMarin, maintains the County’s emergency portal, and coordinates with cities and towns across Marin to strengthen a coordinated response.

This month, we’re especially proud to recognize Steven Torrence, Marin County’s Office of Emergency Management Director, who was selected as a 2026 IAEM-USA 40 Under 40 honoree. The U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers recognizes emergency management professionals under 40 for outstanding leadership and contributions to the profession. This year’s honorees were selected from more than 92 nominations based on their leadership, innovation, impact and community involvement.

We’re grateful to Director Torrence and the entire OEM team for the work they do every day to help Marin County prepare, respond and recover.

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En este Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre el Manejo de Emergencias, queremos destacar a la Oficina de Manejo de Emergencias (OEM) de Marin County Fire Department y a las personas que trabajan detrás de escena durante todo el año para ayudar a que nuestra comunidad esté preparada.

A través de simulacros de evacuación, capacitación en preparación, planificación y actividades de acercamiento a la comunidad, OEM trabaja todos los días para ayudar al Condado de Marin a estar mejor preparado y en mejores condiciones para proteger a las personas cuando ocurre una emergencia.
El equipo desarrolla y actualiza planes de emergencia que ayudan a reducir el impacto de los desastres, identifica formas de hacer que nuestras comunidades sean más resistentes y obtiene fondos de subvenciones para apoyar proyectos de mitigación que pueden marcar una diferencia real antes de que ocurra una emergencia. En colaboración con los cuerpos locales de bomberos y policía, la OEM envía notificaciones críticas a través de AlertMarin, mantiene el portal de emergencias del condado y coordina con las ciudades y pueblos de todo Marin para fortalecer una respuesta coordinada.

Este mes, nos enorgullece especialmente reconocer a Steven Torrence, director de OEM, quien fue seleccionado como uno de los galardonados con el premio «40 Under 40» de la IAEM-USA para 2026. El Consejo de EE. UU. de la Asociación Internacional de Administradores de Emergencias (IAEM) reconoce a los profesionales de manejo de emergencias menores de 40 años por su liderazgo sobresaliente y sus contribuciones a la profesión. Los galardonados de este año fueron seleccionados entre más de 92 nominaciones en función de su liderazgo, innovación, impacto y participación en la comunidad.
Agradecemos al director Torrence y a todo el equipo de OEM por el trabajo que realizan cada día para ayudar al condado de Marin a prepararse, responder y recuperarse.

08/27/2026

At 12:23 p.m., dispatch received reports of smoke and flames north of Rodeo Beach along the Coastal Trail, prompting a wildfire response. Upon arrival, firefighters located a vegetation fire and immediately determined that no structures were threatened.

Responding resources included two fire crews, four Type 3 wildland fire engines, two water tenders, three helicopters, including MCFD & PG&E Helicopter 6PG, one air attack and two air tankers. Totaling about 70 first responders.

Forward progress was stopped at approximately 1:45 p.m. at 3 acres. Fire crews will remain on scene. Please use caution in the area as first responders continue to work. Cause of the fire is still under investigation. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Responding agencies included Marin County Fire Department, National Park Service, Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Tiburon Fire Protection District, Central Marin Fire Department, and CAL FIRE’s Santa Clara and Sonoma-Lake-Napa Units.

Today’s fire is a stark reminder that we are in the middle of wildfire season. We are grateful to our local, state, and federal partners who responded alongside us, and we ask our community to do their part to be prepared.

Stay informed: Sign up for AlertMarin to receive emergency alerts and know where to find accurate information at Emergency.MarinCounty.gov.

Get prepared: Take steps now to prepare for a wildfire and learn more at ReadyMarin.org.

🎥 Courtesy: Air Attack and PG&E

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day 🐶

We asked our team to share photos of their four-legged family members to celebrate our fur-ever heroes who bring us so much joy and companionship 🐾

As we celebrate the joy our pets bring us, it’s also a good reminder to return the favor by including them in your emergency plans. With emergencies sometimes requiring sudden evacuations, a little preparation can help you be better prepared to leave with your pet when needed.

Here are a few essentials to include in your pup’s go-bag:

Enough food for 3–5 days
Treats and comfort items
An extra leash and collar
A photo of you with your dog to help prove ownership if you become separated
A microchip, with your contact information kept up to date
No one wants to leave a pet behind. Plan ahead now so you don’t have to 💛

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Feliz Día Nacional del Perro 🐶

Le pedimos a nuestro equipo que compartiera fotos de los miembros caninos de su familia para celebrar a nuestros héroes peludos que nos traen tanta alegría y compañía 🐾

Mientras celebramos la alegría que nos brindan nuestras mascotas, también debemos recordar devolverles el favor incluyéndolas en nuestros planes de emergencia. Dado que las emergencias a veces requieren evacuaciones repentinas, un poco de preparación puede ayudarte a estar listos para salir con tu mascota cuando sea necesario.

Aquí hay algunos elementos esenciales que debes incluir en la mochila de emergencia de tu mascota:

Comida suficiente para 3 a 5 días
Golosinas y artículos de consuelo
Una correa y un collar de repuesto
Una foto tuya con tu mascota para ayudar a demostrar que eres su dueño en caso de que se separen
Un microchip, con tu información de contacto actualizada
Nadie quiere dejar atrás a su mascota. Prepárate con anticipación para que no tengas que hacerlo 💛

08/25/2026

*UPDATE* Prescribed burn operations are continuing today (August 26) in the Pine Point Area near Bon Tempe Reservoir.
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Today (August 25), the Marin County Fire Department , in coordination with Marin Water, is conducting a prescribed fire operation on Mt. Tam Watershed lands near Sky Oaks Ranger Station between Bullfrog Road and Bon Tempe Road. A second burn is planned for tomorrow (August 26) in the Pine Point area near Bon Tempe Reservoir, depending on favorable weather, fuel conditions and air quality.

You may see or smell smoke in or near Mt. Tam. Please heed all closure signs and refrain from dialing 9-1-1 to report smoke in this area.

During the first burn operation, Bon Tempe Road and the Bon Tempe Parking lot will also be closed. During the second burn operation, Bon Tempe Channel Road North will be closed. Sky Oaks Road will remain open but may be subject to short delays due to smoke and temporary lane closures as fire engines patrol the adjacent burn perimeter.

08/24/2026

Per CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit

UPDATE (8:28 pm): Forward progress of the fire has been stopped. Crews will remain on scene for another couple hours as they continue to mop up hot spots and strengthen established control lines.

Firefighters from Marin County Fire Department, the Novato Fire Dept, Gold Ridge Firefighters and all responded to the fire.

08/22/2026

Point Reyes National Seashore has temporarily closed North Beach after a fishing vessel ran aground early in the morning of Friday, August 21st. No injuries or fuel leaks have been reported, and the National Park Service is coordinating with U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District, NOAA and Marin County Fire as the Coast Guard works to secure a contractor to remove fuel from the vessel. Visitors are asked to stay clear of North Beach while the closure remains in effect to allow first responders to work safely and without interference.

For more information visit: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4580835/unified-command-responds-to-grounded-vessel-in-point-reyes-national-seashore/

08/19/2026

Over the weekend, about 1,100 people across Marin County learned lifesaving skills through Sidewalk CPR.

Hosted by Marin County Health and Human Services, this year’s event brought free, hands-on training to 13 public locations throughout the county.

Our firefighters joined the effort at Marin City and Point Reyes, helping community members learn how to:
• Perform Hands-Only CPR
• Use an AED
• Stop severe bleeding
• Administer Narcan

Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn these skills and prepare to step in when it matters most. A few minutes of training can make a lifesaving difference.
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El fin de semana pasado, alrededor de 1,100 personas alrededor del condado de Marin aprendieron técnicas para salvar vidas a través del programa «Sidewalk CPR».

Organizado por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos del condado de Marin, el evento de este año ofreció capacitación práctica y gratuita en 13 lugares públicos en todo el condado.

Nuestros bomberos se unieron a la iniciativa en Marin City y Point Reyes, ayudando a los miembros de la comunidad a aprender cómo:
• Realizar Reanimación Cardiopulmonar (RCP) solo con las manos
• Usar un desfibrilador externo automático (DEA)
• Detener una hemorragia grave
• Administrar Narcan

Gracias a todos los que se tomaron el tiempo para aprender estas habilidades y se prepararon para intervenir cuando más se necesita. Una formación de unos cuantos minutos puede marcar la diferencia para salvar una vida.

08/17/2026

Thank you, Marin!

We’re honored to share that AlertMarin has been named Pacific Sun’s 2026 Best of Marin winner for Best Emergency Preparedness Service!

This recognition belongs to our community, and we’re grateful to everyone who voted and continues to make emergency preparedness a priority.

AlertMarin is Marin County’s primary emergency notification system, providing critical information and potentially life-saving instructions during emergencies such as wildfires, floods, evacuations, and other incidents when action is needed. Alerts can be sent by phone call, text message, or email.

If you live or work in Marin County, make sure you’re signed up to receive alerts and consider adding additional notification groups for updates on significant weather events, prescribed burns, flooding and more.
👉 Sign up at Emergency.MarinCounty.gov and visit ReadyMarin.org for more preparedness tips.

https://www.marincounty.gov/news-releases/alertmarin-voted-best-marin
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¡Gracias, Marin!

¡Nos sentimos honrados de anunciar que AlertMarin ha sido nombrado ganador del premio «Best of Marin 2026» de Pacific Sun en la categoría de Mejor servicio de preparación para emergencias!

Este reconocimiento le pertenece a nuestra comunidad, y estamos agradecidos con todos los que votaron y siguen dando prioridad a la preparación para emergencias.

AlertMarin es el sistema principal de notificaciones de emergencia del condado de Marin, que brinda información crítica e instrucciones que pueden salvar vidas durante emergencias como incendios forestales, inundaciones, evacuaciones y otros incidentes en los que es necesario actuar. Las alertas se pueden enviar por llamada telefónica, mensaje de texto o correo electrónico.

Si vives o trabajas en el condado de Marin, asegúrate de estar registrado para recibir alertas y considera agregar grupos de notificación adicionales para recibir actualizaciones sobre fenómenos meteorológicos importantes, quemas controladas, inundaciones y más.
👉 Regístrate en Emergency.MarinCounty.gov y visita ReadyMarin.org para obtener más consejos de preparación.

08/11/2026

There’s more to Marin County Fire’s FIRE Foundry program than what you see on the surface.

While we often share the hands-on experiences of our recruits throughout the year-long program, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that makes those opportunities possible - including the work of our Training and Outreach Coordinator, Natalie Alderton.

Natalie joined Marin County Fire through a GrizzlyCorps fellowship after graduating with a degree in writing and rhetoric. While supporting FIRE Foundry, she’s also gained experience with our Vegetation Management program - work she describes as “protecting people from wildfire and stewarding healthy ecosystems.”

In a recent GrizzlyCorps blog post, Natalie shares a look at her experience with Marin County Fire, including the thoughtful work of nesting bird surveys before vegetation projects. Read Natalie’s story to learn more about the people and purpose behind the work we do to protect our community and care for the places we share🐦 and call home!

It was an early spring Monday and my office was a fire road. Hikers shot curious glances my way as I inched along the path, but I had eyes for nothing but the brown blurs streaking through the trees. My ears strained for calls. An angry buzzing stopped me in my tracks. I was amazed this mighty sound...