Blog note: this letter references a grand jury report.
I’m very worried — even panicked — about wildfire in Marin, especially about my house which is a townhome right below Ring Mountain. It’s beautiful in winter, gorgeous in spring and dried out grass in summer and fall.
Maybe I’m so worried because part of my house burned down when I was 6 years old. My family had to live with our neighbors. And later, when I lived in San Francisco, the back half of our house burnt and we had to move.
I found the North Bay fires of 2017, last year’s Paradise fire, the deaths that resulted, the homes destroyed, the people still homeless and the toxic water now in Paradise from the incinerated houses very frightening.
I have attended FireSafe Marin meetings. I reviewed the latest Marin grand jury report and the Marin Municipal Water District watershed and fire prevention report.
In particular, the grand jury asserts that, due to the climate crisis, changing wind patterns and alternating floods and droughts, we are living in a powder keg. Key problem areas, all of which are underfunded, include interagency coordination, vegetation management, public education, evacuation route planning, preignition prevention and suppression.
This will require more staff and more money. MMWD has an ambitious plan to preserve our watershed and prevent fires, but has less staff to do so than 20 years ago.
The grand jury suggests adding a quarter-cent sales tax to fund planning and coordination. Our fire chief supports this or a similar plan.
I would hate to see penny wise, pound foolish citizens object. Meanwhile, I’m scanning my documents for my go bag. I hope it’s ready by fall.
June 1, 2019
Marin Independent Journal
Letter from Barbara Rothkrug, Corte Madera
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