HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Wildfire Prevention Efforts in San Rafael from 2019-2025 PPTWildfire Prevention Efforts in San Rafael
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 38-POINT
ACTION PLAN (2019–2025)
OCTOBER 6, 2025
Key Points
How the 38-point plan is used
Status of the action items
Plan review and update
Background
Developed with extensive community input +
City Council guidance
Adoption of the 38-Point Wildfire Prevention &
Protection Action Plan in 2019
Framework: short-, medium-, and long-term
actions
Supported by Measure C (10-year parcel tax
funding wildfire prevention)
Foundation for San Rafael’s leadership in
wildfire resilience
Uses and Alignments
Annual MWPA Work
Plan and Budget
Integrated into
Hazard Mitigation
Plan
Aligns with Council
Priority Area C:
Sustainability and
Resilience
Directs policy focus
areas
Foundation for San
Rafael’s efforts in
wildfire resilience
Progress Snapshot of 38-Point Plan
•4 items complete
•8 transitioned to maintenance
•21 ongoing programs
•2 in progress (to finish by end of FY25)
•2 pending
•1 not started
85% completed, ongoing, or in maintenance
Key Achievements
Many Items
Overlap and are
Interconnected
Initial Policy
Completion
Ongoing
Programmatic
Implementation
General Concepts
Established San Rafael Wildfire
Mitigation Team
Agency collaboration
Development of new resources
Items 14, 19, 26, 38
Public Education
Established San Rafael Wildfire Mitigation
Team
Language Access
Planned Events
Community Events
Coordinated efforts with neighborhood
leaders
Items 6, 7, 10, 24, 30, 31, 34, 35
Defensible Space and Home Hardening
Expanded vegetation management code
(SRMC 4.12)
$200,000 in reimbursement grants awarded to
102 property owners (since 2024)
Direct Assistance to 62 homes (since 2024)
100% of single-family parcels inspected
29,375 total inspections completed to date
(17,623 of 17,847 parcels inspected)
Items 1, 2, 3, 8, 21, 22, 23, 25, 36
Evacuation Improvements
Non-Opt in Alerting tools- Hi-Lo Sires,
Portable LRADS,
Enhanced evacuation route clearance
& safe parking areas
Increased Staff training and Drills
Items 28, 29, 32
Vegetation Management
Multiple fuel reduction and shaded fuel break
projects completed
Fire roads
Evacuation routes
Goats
Landscape restoration
Items 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 16, 20, 27, 33
Policy
Short Rental Safety (SRMC 10.110)
Expanded vegetation management code (SRMC 4.12)
Safer Parking for emergency access and egress (SRMC 5.40)
No smoking in open space (SRMC 9.04)
Wood Shake roofs (SRMC 12.200 and 12.255)
Items 12, 13, 17, 18, 37
Progress Snapshot of 38-Point Plan
•Dual-gate requirement for fences (not
started) – item 37
•WUI map update (pending state code
changes) –item 12
•Adoption of new Wildland-Urban
Interface Code (pending review) –item 17
Remaining
challenges:
Pending- Map Review and Update
City WUI, County WUI Hazard MapsCity WUI
Pending-
Increased Home
Hardening
Application via
Chapter 5 (7A)
1 hour fire resistance rating
Ignition Resistant exterior construction
Gutter Guards
Deck Material Standards
Garage Door Battery Back-ups and perimeter gap
Vents
Roof Standards
Plan Update
Wildfire environment has changed since 2019:
•Longer fire seasons, shorter but more intense winters
•State policy shifts (Zone Zero, new WUI Code)
•Advances in fire science and climate data
Align with MWPA goals and San Rafael’s 3-Year
Strategic Plan
Opportunity to:
•Close out completed actions
•Consolidate overlapping initiatives
•Introduce new priorities (climate adaptation, resilient
infrastructure, social impacts)
Next Steps
•Launch community engagement process for plan
update
•Reorganize plan to integrate:
•Ongoing programs
•Maintenance Goals
•New projects
•Policy and advocacy initiatives
•Maintain a standalone document that remains
practical and adaptive
•Deliver updated plan in alignment with city and
regional goals