Mark Brown, Executive Officer of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, shares an urgent reminder:
Wildfires Are Not a Surprise: 2003, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021—these fires are not anomalies. California no longer has a “fire season.” Wildfire risk exists year-round, even in January.
Defensible Space and Home Hardening Save Lives
Some argue these measures wouldn’t help in extreme conditions, but the evidence says otherwise. The Getty Villa is a prime example—defensible space made a critical difference.
It’s not just about protecting homes; it keeps evacuation routes clear and saves lives. Urban areas aren’t immune—Coffey Park, Lahaina, and LA prove that fire can devastate densely populated communities. A small investment in mitigation today can prevent catastrophic loss tomorrow.
Community-Wide Action Matters
Fire resilience isn’t just an individual effort—it requires large-scale solutions like shaded fuel breaks to slow wildfires before they reach homes. The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority is leading in this work thanks to voters’ passage of Measure C.
Evacuation Lessons We Must Learn
If you have mobility challenges or live in a high-risk area, leave early.
Act on warnings—don’t wait for an evacuation order.
Stay in your car—evacuation routes are often survivable. Abandoned vehicles can block roads and put others in danger.
Watch:
It will happen here again: Reflecting on the LA fires and what it means for Bay Area fire prevention hosted by the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford.
As we analyze the recent fires in LA, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority and FIRESafe Marinwill continue to strengthen their work. Let’s stop being surprised and start being prepared.
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