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July 29, 2026

At 4:42 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026, our Southern Marin region received a powerful reminder of just how vulnerable our communities are to wildfire. On a clear summer day, the sirens of multiple fire engines echoed throughout our neighborhoods, coupled with the sight of firefighting aircraft (first arriving PG&E-funded helicopter water drops, CalFire air tankers) circling overhead. As the smoke remained visible for hours, we understand the fear and concern that residents and visitors felt. Could this be happening in our city?

Those who witnessed the Hillside Fire in Mill Valley also saw what happens when years of carefully planned wildfire-prevention work is combined with a rapid and coordinated emergency response. Our vegetation management program, including strategically placed ridgeline fuel breaks and broad shaded fuel breaks, slowed the fire’s spread and created critical time and space for firefighters and aircraft to engage. These investments helped tilt the odds in favor of a successful outcome: a fire stopped and a neighborhood protected. 

We extend our profound gratitude to our entire Southern Marin community for investing in lifesaving programs to protect our neighborhoods. We can’t do it without you! Thank you for your support of Measure C, which in 2020 created the countywide Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA). Thank you for your support of the Mill Valley Municipal Services Tax (MST), which funds vegetation management activities, and thank you to a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy.

Monday, we witnessed a return on those investments. The strategic fuel break in this area held the fire in check until fire crews and aircraft could arrive, giving our firefighters a fighting chance when confronting wildfire in the steep canyons and treasured ridgelines that define our area.

Current project work on the Greater Mill Valley Shaded Fuel Break began last year. More than 35% of the project has been completed, with approximately $,1,163,000 of investment to date from Measure C and MST funding. This project significantly strengthens the network of shaded fuel breaks designed to protect our neighborhoods and increase community resilience.

Thank you for making this work possible.

Our response would also not have been possible without our law enforcement partners, specifically the City of Mill Valley Police Department. Their professionalism, preparation, and commitment to protecting our residents and visitors are second to none. Through coordinated planning, training, and exercises, they stand ready to carry out their critical responsibilities during fast-moving emergencies.

In the weeks following the Hillside Fire, we will closely examine our response, the decisions that were made, and the communications that were provided. Our purpose is straightforward: to learn from the incident, strengthen our operations, and continually improve the services we provide throughout Mill Valley and Southern Marin.

In partnership with the City of Mill Valley, the Mill Valley Police Department, and other allied agencies, we are planning a regional neighborhood meeting to share important information about the fire investigation/response, answer questions, and reinforce the emergency-preparedness resources available to our community. These include AlertMarin, Neighborhood Response Groups, Community Emergency Response Teams, and other civic and volunteer organizations.

We will continue to emphasize several essential actions:

  • Know your neighbors.
  • Register for emergency alerts.
  • Prepare and maintain a go-bag.
  • Know at least two ways to evacuate from your home and neighborhood.
  • Take one car during an evacuation.
  • Take steps now to reduce wildfire hazards around your property.

The Hillside Fire demonstrated both the seriousness of the threat and the value of preparation. By continuing to work together, we can become a more resilient, informed, and wildfire-adapted community.

Warm regards,

Tom Welch
Interim Fire Chief
Southern Marin Fire Protection District

Fred Hilliard
Fire Marshal
Southern Mari n Fire Protection District

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