Novato Fire Protection District

08/23/2026

UPDATE: Hamilton Marsh Vegetation Management Project

Vegetation and debris cleanup near the Hamilton marsh and skate park area continues to make steady progress. This week, crews worked behind the homes along Las Palmas in Los Robles Mobile Home Park.

Next week, crews will return to the marsh to complete work that began this spring. Work will continue until the start of the rainy season.

Since the project began last November, crews have significantly improved conditions in the area while helping reduce wildfire risk.

This effort is part of an ongoing partnership between the City of Novato and the Novato Fire Protection District. Contractors are working in phases throughout the Hamilton marsh and skate park areas to reduce hazardous vegetation, remove debris, and keep our community spaces clean and safe.

08/23/2026

At 3:28 p.m. today, Novato Fire Protection District crews responded to multiple reports of smoke near Redwood Boulevard and Palmer Drive.

Crews arrived to find approximately a half-acre of grass burning uphill, with no structures threatened. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control and prevented further spread. Marin County Fire Department resources assisted with suppression and overhaul.

Thank you to our agency partners including Novato Police Department, Marin County Fire, and CHP for assisting.

No injuries or property damage were reported. The cause is under investigation.

08/22/2026

APPRECIATION POST: There are some people who become part of the Novato Fire family without ever wearing the uniform, and Juanita is one of them.

For years, Juanita has kept our members well supplied with homemade treats, and this week she put her baking to work for an even sweeter cause: a bake sale benefiting the Novato Fire Foundation.

We’re lucky to have friends like Juanita who continue to show up for our members and support the work we do in our community.

We’re grateful for her friendship, her generosity and, of course, all the baked goods along the way.

[Alt text: Novato Fire District attending a local bake sale.]

08/21/2026

Congratulations to Max on completing his EMS internship with Novato Fire District!

Max’s journey with us started at just 15 years old as an Explorer. Since then, he’s continued to grow with the District as a Reserve and now an Intern while working toward his paramedic license.

For his final day of EMS internship, Max spent the day on an engine sharpening his firefighter skills alongside the crew. It was a fitting way to wrap up this part of his journey, especially after spending so many years learning and serving with us.

Next up: getting his state paramedic license. Once he does, he’ll be eligible to join us full time, and we’re hoping to see him back for our next academy.

From Explorer at 15 to nearly becoming a Novato firefighter, we’re proud of how far you’ve come, Max. Congratulations!

[Alt text: Max, wearing turnout gear, outside a training building for a photo on the final day of his EMS internship. In the second photo, Max practices a patient assessment on another firefighter during training.]

08/21/2026

Multi-Use Path Closure: South Novato Blvd to Entrada Drive beginning August 20

As part of the Greater Novato Shaded Fuel Break Project, Novato Fire Protection District is working in collaboration with the City of Novato on a hazardous vegetation project focused on the removal of eucalyptus along the multi-use path along Highway 101 connecting S Novato Boulevard to Entrada Drive. The pathway will be closed while work is underway.

📅 August 20 – September 8
📍 S Novato Blvd to Entrada Drive
⏰ 7am – 5pm | Monday through Friday

All work is weather dependent. Please plan ahead for additional travel time and use alternate routes.

Detour for S Novato Blvd to Ignacio Blvd
• Redwood Blvd to Palmer Dr
• Right on Palmer Dr to Ignacio Blvd
• Left on Ignacio Blvd to Entrada Dr
• Left on Entrada Dr

Detour for Ignacio Blvd to S Novato Blvd
• Go west on Ignacio Blvd to Palmer Dr, right on Palmer Dr
• Palmer Dr to Redwood Blvd
• Left on Redwood Blvd to S Novato Blvd

The Greater Novato Shaded Fuel Break is a continuous 300-foot band around Novato, funded by the Measure C parcel tax. It will provide additional defensible space for homes near parks and open spaces, helping reduce wildfire intensity and severity by addressing accumulated vegetation and invasive species. The project is being completed in partnership with Marin Wildfire.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete this important fire safety work.

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

Recruit class 2026.1 has officially completed their academy, and today marks the beginning of their next chapter with Novato Fire District.

They’ve put in the work, pushed through long days and challenging training, and built the foundation they’ll carry with them as they begin shift work at our stations. We’re proud of how far they’ve come and excited to watch them grow into the firefighters and paramedics they’re becoming.

Their success is also a reflection of the people who helped get them here. From the training cadre who guided them through the academy to the many members across our suppression division who stepped in to teach, coach and share their experience, this was a true District-wide effort.

To Academy 2026.1, congratulations! Take what you’ve learned, keep learning, look out for each other and remember why you chose this profession. We’re proud to have you on the floor and can’t wait to see what comes next.

08/11/2026

Ever wondered how we tackle large-scale wildfires that require resources from outside the area?

Meet one of Novato Fire’s Battalion Chiefs, Barrett Smith, who is currently deployed to the Little Giant Fire in Washington, just outside Leavenworth and Lake Chelan.

Chief Smith is serving as a Division Trainee on Division F, helping provide leadership and management of firefighting resources on the north end of Lake Chelan.

This fire presents some unique challenges. Portions of Chief Smith’s division are accessible only by boat, requiring crews to be shuttled in each day to support fire operations at boat-in-only campgrounds and structures.

The Little Giant Fire was sparked by lightning on July 16 and as of August 11, has grown to approximately 116,956 acres (182 square miles), with 2% containment. Communities including Plain, Leavenworth, Entiat, and Chelan remain threatened.

From Novato to Washington and all over the West Coast, we’re honored to provide mutual aid when needed. No matter where we serve, our thoughts are always with the communities affected. Stay safe, Chief Smith, and all the crews working this incident!