Firefighters Conducting Controlled Burn This Week In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Marin County Fire Department is conducting a controlled burn Tuesday and Wednesday on hillsides near Highway 101 and the St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael.

The burn is taking place in an effort to train 89 new seasonal-hire firefighters, as well as to reduce fuel in the area in preparation of wildfire season, according to the department. This will be the first live burn for 34 new firefighters.

Organizers plan to limit the burns to 10 acres, according to Novato Fire Protection District. Firefighters will practice hose laying, fire backlighting techniques and using a bulldozer.

The controlled burn will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Fire officials said residents may see and/or smell smoke during the burn.

"We promote controlled burns to help reduce calls to our emergency dispatchers about the sight or smell of smoke," fire officials said. "If you have neighbors who are not on social media, please give them a phone call or knock on their door so they aren't surprised by our scheduled burn."

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