Marin Firefighter News

Shop Stewards: Our local will be hosting its second Fire Ops 101 event this spring. For those of you who are not familiar with the program, Fire Ops 101 is a one day hands-on event where our local decision makers get to suit up in PPE and experience the issues that we face as Firefighters in Marin. At our last Fire Ops, we put local Mayors and Board members from throughout Marin through Ross Valley's burn trailer, Truck 54's extrication equipment and various other evolutions that demonstrated why adequate staffing and training are important to us.

An off-duty Marin County firefighter rescued two crab fishermen whose foundering vessel was headed for the rocks at Rodeo Beach Sunday.

Colleagues hailed firefighter Rick Racich as a hero following the dramatic rescue in angry seas.

Racich, taking advantage of storm-whipped waves on a day off, was at the beach to surf about 9 a.m. when he spotted a man and woman in distress aboard a small craft buffeted by stiff wind and pounded by waves.

Marin County Fire Department and the County of Marin Administrator's Office will participate in the 2011 Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk with the goal of improving the lives of those affected by brain tumors.  Inspired to walk in support of colleagues, friends and families whose lives have been directly impacted by this disease, Team Marin will walk in colleague Mike's memory and in support of colleague Jamie (Fire Engineer and Treasurer, L1775) and his family, who is currently fighting brain cancer.  No matter where you find yourself connected to this cause, being inspired by the people we care about is always a worthy battle.

Funds raised during these walks help direct promising research, support families who are currently coping with the effects of a brain tumor, and advocate for change.  Last year the walk raised $630,000 and organisers are hoping to be able to contribute to making an even bigger impact this year.

Firefighters in Marin County do more than fight fires – during their time off, you may have seen them at locations across Marin “Filling their Boots” with donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. On May 1, more than 70 off-duty Marin firefighters raised $32,000 in donations from drivers at seven intersections from Novato to Sausalito.  The donations, collected from passing motorists, will be used to research and treat a range of neuromuscular diseases collectively known as Muscular Dystrophy.

KTVU news anchor Heather Holmes, Marin County Shop Steward Breanna Buchannan and L-1775 President Bob Briare at the September 6, 2010 MDA Telethon in Oakland. The Marin Professional Firefighters presented a check just under $20,000 on the air during the telethon.  The donation was made from funds collected during the 2010 Marin "Fill the Boot" campaign.  Thank you to all of the Marin residents and visitors who donated to help Jerry's Kids and search for a cure for Muscular Dystrophy.   www.mda.org