A harsh reminder that it is fire season

Lew Tremaine/The View from The Hill

I live up the hill from Downtown Fairfax on Bolinas Road. On the night of Oct. 5, a fire started about a half mile from where I live. It consumed about three acres before an army of firefighters contained it within 45 minutes. Definitely unnerving and a harsh reminder that fire season is upon us.

I have always marveled at how effective our local fire departments are when it comes to fighting wildfires. As an elected official, this time of year always scared the hell out of me. But I was comforted by the knowledge that the fire departments in Marin are so adept at addressing them.

I have a bias, I’ll admit. I served seven years representing Fairfax on the Board of Directors for the Ross Valley Fire Department. Time well spent, I think. Also, the RVFD has meant a great deal to my family. Both my sons, now successful in their careers, served as Fire Explorer Scouts for the department.  While neither became firefighters, the experience gave them self confidence that I know has carried them far in their professional lives. 

One of the most impressive things that the RVFD taught them was how to interview for a job. Twice a year they would have to sit down with a Battalion Chief on a mock interview, as if they were applying for a job with the department. Afterwards, they would get critiqued on their performance. To put it mildly, both of my sons knocked every  interview that they ever had for a job right out of the park.

Now that we are in the midst of fire season, I’m thankful for the RVFD, and their mutual aid responders all the more. Their professionalism and training has been top notch for decades. And they deserve our thanks and appreciation.