It Can Happen Here — And It Has!
In 2016, six undeveloped acres of Bayside Acres burned. The Xs on this map mark those lots. Notice how close the burn zone is to homes on Main Drive and Bayview Drive. We dodged a bullet because there was no wind; only one home was threatened. However, even a moderate wind could have threatened the homes north of Point San Pedro Road and forced evacuation. That fire demonstrated our vulnerability to wildfire.
Who Is Firewise?
Your Bayside Acres Firewise Team (BAFT) is a Board-sanctioned group of residents who educate and encourage neighbors to take responsibility for minimizing that vulnerability. Participating neighbors clear defensible space on their property, harden their homes against windblown embers, and understand what to do if a wildfire erupts. Accomplishing those objectives not only helps protect our own homes in the event of a wildfire, it also provides protection to neighboring residences and benefits us all.
BAFT works closely with Fire Safe Marin and indirectly with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. As a result of strong neighbor participation, the National Fire Protection Association has named the Bayside Acres subdivision a Firewise USA Nationally Recognized Participating Site (see BANA Firewise Certificate).
Presently, there are 80+ recognized Firewise Neighborhoods in Marin County. Initial National Recognition required a thorough analysis of Bayside Acres’ wildfire risk. The analysis was conducted by BAFT in 2020 and was documented in our Firewise Assessment for Bayside Acres. This information must be updated each year to retain our status as a Firewise USA Neighborhood. Your work toward maintaining defensible space around your home provides BAFT with the data needed to reapply each year.
What Can You Do As A Bayside Acres Neighbor?
Sign up for the available Early Warning Systems so that you can be aware of an impending wildfire or other disaster. Fill up your green can weekly with yard debris and any compostable material you generate.
Most importantly, become aware of what you can do to prepare for wildfire and to act appropriately should one occur. Our “Preparing for Wildfire” pages (see the dropdown menu) can help you to achieve that goal. It is important to clear defensible space around your home and harden your home against blowing embers. The former aids our community in maintaining our Firewise USA Neighborhood status each year. The latter both protects your home and may provide financial discount incentives with your insurance agency.
How Firewise Bayside Acres Works
Bayside Acres’ Firewise USA Neighborhood recognition must be re-certified annually by Firewise USA. Firewise USA recertification allow us to continue offering tangible benefits. USAA Insurance and California’s FAIR Plan offer premium discounts to policyholders in Bayside Acres and other insurance companies are likely to follow suit given various mandates by the insurance commissioner of the State of California. If your insurance company requires proof of Firewise USA recognition, you can download a copy of our certificate from the Bayside Acres Firewise Certificate page.
As well, FIRESafe MARIN sponsors free chipper days. On Chipper Days, a resident can pile cleared brush and trees next to the road and a FIRESafe MARIN crew will chip and remove the debris. That eliminates the greatest cost associated with clearing defensible space. You can find more detailed coverage of clearing defensible space and home hardening in our section on Property Preparation in the “Preparing for Wildfire” section of the above Firewise dropdown menu.
This website is focused on information to support our residents in Bayside Acres to prepare for, and survive, wildfires. The Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition’s website on Disaster Prep provides significant information for dealing with other disasters that could occur, and you are urged to review that information as well.