West Marin residents and property owners from the Inverness Ridge communities, Point Reyes Station and Olema are invited to attend an informational meeting on March 27 or March 30 to learn more about a series of fire safety projects planned for later this spring and summer.
The meetings will focus on the funding Marin County Fire Department at Point Reyes Station recently received in partnership with the National Park Service and FireSafe Marin to improve fire safety in communities surrounding Point Reyes National Seashore.
The projects propose vegetation management and improvement of turnouts along roads in Inverness Ridge neighborhoods to provide safe emergency access for firefighters and egress for residents in the event of a fire. The proposed work involves brushing, and limbing on roadsides and clearance above the road in order to decrease fuels in areas required for transit. These road maintenance measures are the standard for all county-maintained roads in Marin.
Roadside work is currently planned for Fox Lane, Noren Way, McCarthy Court, Silverhills Road, Laurel Street, Drake Summit, Balboa Ave., Redwood Drive, Sherwood Rd., South Dream Farm Rd., and North Dream Farm Rd.
Additional funding has also been provided for a chipping program to reduce costs associated with managing vegetation around homes in order to create defensible space. This program is intended for residents of Point Reyes Station, Inverness Ridge and Olema.
For convenience, two meeting dates have been scheduled to present the proposed work and to discuss any questions residents may have. The meetings have been scheduled for Wednesday, March 27th, 7:30-8:30pm and Saturday, March 30th, 10-11am at the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station. Residents only need to attend one meeting.
Funding for these projects is provided through a cooperative agreement between the National Park Service and FireSafe Marin.
"Fire safety involves a lot of teamwork," says Seashore Superintendent Don Neubacher.
FireSafe Marin is one of over 90 fire safe councils throughout the state of California which bring together public agencies, private business, and local residents to prevent losses due to wildland fire.
FireSafe Marin meets monthly and all interested are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the FireSafe Marin website at www.firesafemarin.org.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
