MILL VALLEY, CA — Southern Marin fire officials said years of fuel‑reduction work paid off during the recent Hillside Fire, even as they warned that a "normal" 2026 wildfire season still carried serious risks for Mill Valley neighborhoods.
Marin County Fire Department Division Chief Chris Fox told the City Council statewide wildfire activity had burned fewer acres than the year before but said the damage from any season depended on where and how fires ignited.
"A normal fire potential does not mean low risk," he said. "Dry fuels, red flag periods, and offshore wind events are part of a normal fire season."
Division Chief Fred Hilliard said the 2026 Hillside Fire showed how local projects like the Mill Valley fuel break could change outcomes.
"If you have had an opportunity to go up and walk the fire, you can see that where the fire started into where it stopped was right in the treated area," he said.
Hilliard said that made a big difference in their ability to control the fire.
Councilmember Urban Carmel asked about the impact of local tax funding and regional Measure C dollars that support vegetation work.
"I just want to make a comment about the importance of those issues and what impact you see as a consequence in reducing fire risk for the City of Mill Valley," he said
Hilliard said that keeping those projects funded was absolutely critical to maintain their effectiveness.
Fire officials urged homeowners to maintain Zone 0, the first five feet around structures, clear vegetation, prepare go‑bags and sign up for Alert Marin, while reminding residents that quick 911 calls remained the most important early‑warning tool.
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