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A series of community meetings in
California in the communities of Inverness, Point Reyes Station,
Marshall, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, and Olema, during summer
2005 have provided numerous opportunities for residents to
learn about defensible space in the context of disaster preparedness.
These meetings were made possible through the community assistance
program of the National Fire Plan, and cooperation between
local fire departments, the West Marin Disaster Councils,
FIRESafe MARIN, and Point Reyes National Seashore.
A postcard announcing a community meeting
on disaster preparedness and defensible space was sent to
six communities. Two presentation dates were offered in Inverness,
Bolinas, Stinson Beach, and Point Reyes Station, and one each
in Olema and Marshall. The local fire department in each community
developed and presented the defensible space portion of the
program. The West Marin Disaster Council Coordinator developed
and presented the disaster preparedness portion. This community
education opportunity has been offered to approximately 4,000
residents.
 A
follow-up mailing will announce upcoming events such as a
Red Cross shelter management class, the CERT (Community Emergency
Response Team) training which has been traditionally offered
two times each year, and fire education workshops.
The West Marin Disaster Councils were established
over 20 years ago, in response to floods in 1982,
which demonstrated the need for community preparedness. The
mission of the Disaster Councils is to improve preparedness
and emergency response, and to educate communities about defensible
space.
The disaster council organization is a network of volunteer
neighborhood liaisons who communicate critical information
through area coordinators to fire departments during an emergency.
The emphasis on preparing for emergency situations, through
neighborhood communications, evacuation plans, and maintaining
emergency supplies, is highly compatible with creating defensible
space to protect lives and property in the event of a wildfire.
The core elements of this project have also recently been
incorporated into the Marin County Community Wildfire Protection
Plan, reinforcing the success of this partnership.
Contact: Jennifer Chapman, Fire
Education, Prevention and Information Specialist
Phone: (415) 464-5133
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