At Central Marin Fire Department, our top priority is ensuring the safety of our community and neighbors during wildfire season. Wildfires can spread rapidly, and being prepared to act quickly is critical to protecting yourself, your family, and your neighbors. Below, we’ve outlined essential tips, tools, and resources to help you stay informed and ready.
Wildfire Evacuation: A Comprehensive Guide for Central Marin
Wildfires are an inherent risk in Marin County, and their dynamic nature requires every resident to be prepared to act quickly and decisively. Evacuation planning is one of the most effective ways to protect lives during wildfire emergencies. This page serves as your detailed guide to wildfire evacuation, tailored to the unique terrain and challenges of Central Marin.
Understanding Evacuations
Wildfires are dynamic and influenced by numerous factors, making their behavior challenging to predict without precise knowledge of the ignition point, weather conditions, and terrain at the time of the fire. This unpredictability underscores the importance of having a well-prepared evacuation plan that can be adapted to real-time conditions. Public safety officials issue three primary types of notifications:
- Evacuation Warning: Prepare to leave. A short delay to gather essentials may be permissible, but readiness to depart immediately is critical.
- Evacuation Order: Leave immediately. Do not delay for any reason. Follow all instructions from authorities.
- Shelter in Place: Stay in a safe location when evacuation is unsafe or unnecessary.
Knowing the difference between these notifications and being ready to act can save lives.
Key Principles for Safe Evacuation
- Evacuate Downhill Whenever Possible: Fires move uphill rapidly due to wind and radiant heat.
- Take the Shortest Route to Safety: Time is critical. Use the quickest route to the valley floor or a designated safe area.
- Stay in Your Vehicle When Evacuating: Vehicles provide protection from smoke, radiant heat, and embers.
- Know Two or More Routes: Familiarize yourself with multiple paths out of your area to ensure flexibility during an emergency.
- Avoid Fire Roads and Open Space Areas: These routes often have unburned vegetation and are not designed for evacuation.
- Dress to Protect Yourself, Even in Your Car: Wear cotton or wool clothing, long sleeves, and long pants. Sturdy shoes or boots, leather gloves, goggles, a floppy cotton hat, and a cotton face covering with an N95 mask provide additional protection.
Step 1: Prepare Before a Wildfire
Create an Evacuation Plan
Develop a personalized evacuation plan for your household. Consider the following:
