The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) released an updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Map on February 24, 2025, identifying areas in the Tiburon Fire District’s coverage zones as Moderate Fire Hazard Zones. You will notice on the proposed map, Angel Island State Park as Very High Fire Hazard Zone. LRA maps help communities understand wildfire risk and informs future building and safety regulations.
The District cannot downgrade the severity zones identified by CalFire. Jurisdictions and agencies can upgrade severity classifications based on local conditions and risk assessments.
What Does This Mean for the Tiburon Fire District?
The Tiburon Fire District has reviewed CalFire’s draft map and created a local version for adoption.
Ordinance Adoption: The District must adopt a finalized map by Ordinance #132 within 120 days of receiving the map. The first reading (in title only) of Ordinance #132 is May 7, 2025. The Public Hearing for adoption is June 11, 2025.
Submission to CalFire: After adoption, the District has 30 days to submit Ordinance #132 to CalFire.
Why are there new maps?
1. Government code 51178 requires the state to identify moderate and high severity zones in addition to very high.
2. Previous LRA maps only contained very high.
3. These maps may include new areas that were not previously identified by the State Fire Marshal.
What are the requirements for the fire district?
1. Government code 51178.5 requires local agencies to make the information available for public review and comment.
2. Public comments can be submitted with the staff report to the District’s Board of Directors at the time of ordinance adoption.
3. Government code 51179 requires the local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high zones within 120 days.
What can the fire district do for these new maps?
1. Government code 51179 does not allow local agencies to decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone or to remove areas from the recommended map.
2. Government code 51179 does allow a local agency to include additional areas not identified by the State Fire Marshal. The District is not adding any areas to the maps.
3. The comment period is specifically for comment and the comments cannot be used to decrease or remove areas from the recommended map.
FOR MORE INFO:
CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Viewer
CalFire Fire Hazard Information
Wildfire preparedness on the peninsula
Current Operational Readiness: Even when battling fires all over the state, the Tiburon Fire Protection District, along with our partnering agencies, remain fully staffed locally and are prepared to address calls for service. We hope the following will address some of the most commonly asked questions.
Water Supply/ Hydrants: Following the Loma Prieta earthquake (1989) and the Oakland Hills fire (1991) a coalition of representatives from County, Cities, Towns and Districts convened to make immediate recommendations which resulted in two hallmark programs, Fire Flow Master Plan and Fire Flow Improvement Plan, have been stewarded by Marin Water District, supported by a voter approved initiative in 1996, and renewed in 2012. Funds are used to ensure the integrity of the water transmission system following an earthquake and to provide adequate fire flow to deliver large amounts in major fires. We have greatly enhanced our domestic and fire flow system throughout the county with upgraded and increased storage capacity, new larger mains, additional hydrants and pumps and backup power. Our hydrants are visited twice a year for operational readiness and routine maintenance. If you have a hydrant on your property, please feel free to clear any adjacent vegetation or debris between our visits.
Preparedness: Personal preparedness involves registering online with AlertMarin, https://emergency.marincounty.gov/pages/alertmarin, creating an evacuation plan, having a “go bag” containing essential supplies, medications, preparing to evacuate with pets, assisting neighbors with mobility challenges and being ready for safe evacuation if necessary.
Evacuation: When firefighters and paramedics are responding and heading into the emergency, your local Police Department will be helping you to evacuate away from the danger. Any questions regarding evacuation planning, including zones/maps and evacuation signs, should be directed to the local Police Departments. https://www.townoftiburon.org/537/Police-Department and https://www.cityofbelvedere.org/departments/police/
Prevention Information: Home hardening is essential to protect buildings from igniting during wildfires. By resisting ember ignition through proper vent installation, removing combustible materials and creating defensible space, sealing openings, enclosing soffits and correctly installed gutters with guards, homes can better withstand wildfires. This is why we conduct annual Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) inspections and will do a Defensible Space inspection for anyone outside the WUI that requests it in our jurisdiction. For inspection requests, please email vegetation@tiburonfire.org.
Please take the time to learn about defensible space, home hardening and vegetation management – firesafemarin.org & https://www.tiburonfire.org/defensible-space/ Also, remember to take advantage of our Chipper Days conducted on the second Saturday of the month, May-September at Blackie’s Pasture. For more information: https://www.tiburonfire.org/chipper-vegetation-removal-days/
To print the above information: wildfire preparedness on the peninsula_Jan. 2025
SANDBAG INFO:
Tiburon – Self-serve sandbag filling stations are available at Blackie’s Pasture gravel parking lot and at the Tether Park tennis courts parking lot near Beach Road.
Belvedere – There are marked wooden sandbag stations on Lagoon Road across from #50, on Community Road across from the Community Center and West Shore Road across from #71.
FOR PURCHASE:
Shamrock Materials (415) 455-1575, 548 DuBois St, San Rafael
Flood bags – ready-made
Goodman’s, (415) 388-6233, 775 Redwood Hwy., MV
Have bags – empty and full
Water Components, (415) 451-1780, 44 Simms, SR (near Marin Sanitary)
Have bags – empty and full
IF YOU SHOULD HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING SANDBAGS IN BELVEDERE OR TIBURON, PLEASE CONTACT BDPW OR TDPW.
