MARIN COUNTY, Calif. — Ember Stomp, a free wildfire safety and preparedness festival hosted by the nonprofit Fire Safe Marin, drew an estimated 6,000 attendees at the Marin Civic Center, home of the county fair.
In early September, dozens of agencies, including all Marin fire departments, teamed with nonprofits to highlight fire prevention programs and community resources, KQED reported.
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Vendors showcased fire-resistant building materials, rooftop sprinklers and defensible-space landscape designs, offering residents practical steps to reduce wildfire risk.
Organizers said the strong turnout underscored growing public interest in preparedness amid escalating wildfire threats.
Five years ago, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, a joint powers agency funded by a voter-approved parcel tax, was formed to coordinate wildfire prevention and support groups like Fire Safe Marin in advancing local preparedness.
“Marin has found a great way to create a local funding stream that has been a critical innovation, especially in a landscape where we see fluctuations in the availability of state and federal funds,” Jacy Hyde, executive director for the California Fire Safe Council said.
Live-burn demonstrations headlined the event, showcasing how fire-resistant materials and retrofits perform. Researcher Steve Quarles tested soffits and four mesh vent sizes, showing 1/16-inch mesh best blocked embers, while larger 1/4- and 1/2-inch screens allowed them through. One 1/16-inch mesh is ember-resistant only; another carries state approval for flame resistance.
With up to 90% of home ignitions sparked by wind-blown embers, keeping them out was the day’s core message, hence “Ember Stomp.”
