Southern Marin Fire Protection District (SMFD) maintains a daily staffing level of 16 personnel. The District's suppression personnel are divided into three platoons, A, B, and C. Each platoon is commanded by a Battalion Chief who is responsible for 3 stations, Strawberry, Tamalpais Valley, and Sausalito. Personnel are deployed in 3 Engines, 1 Ladder Truck, and 1 Rescue Squad. These crews perform fire suppression operations, medical/rescue services, and other hazard mitigation activities, which allow SMFD personnel to carry out the primary mission of protecting the lives and property of our citizens.

Southern Marin Fire Protection (SMFD) District has trained all of its line personnel as Hazardous Materials First Responders. This level of training gives firefighters the knowledge to protect the public and themselves at a Hazardous Materials release. To mitigate significant Hazmat incidents, the District contracts with the Marin County Hazardous Materials Team, as do all other departments in Marin County. Personnel from SMFD and various other Marin fire agencies staff this team. We are also a designated Decontamination Unit for incidents in the Southern Marin area.

The District has been proactive in the areas of Homeland Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Fire personnel train regularly on subjects such as recognition and defense for chemical/biological events, Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI), and Mass Victim Decontamination. SMFD was the first fire organization in Marin County to equip personnel with the Mark I Nerve Agent Antidote Kits, and was instrumental in creating a countywide training program for them.

If you have hazardous materials in your home that you need to dispose of, the following information may be of interest to you:

Hazardous Waste Disposal in Marin County

Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility
565 Jacoby Street
San Rafael, CA
www.marinsanitary.com/hazardous

For residential waste disposal information and a complete description of what can be brought to the facility, call (415) 485-6806.

For business disposal information and appointments, call (415) 485-5648.

The USAR Team is comprised of a forty-eight member staff, each trained at least to the Rescue Systems One Level. The team is considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, since it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters. The team is certified as a "heavy" rescue team by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Several members are trained as technical specialists, capable of performing confined space rescue, water rescue, physical search and rescue operations in collapsed structures, initial medical stabilization of injured response personnel and trapped victims, hazardous materials categorization, structural hazard evaluation, and stabilization of damaged structures. The team is composed of members from the fire department and department of public works utilizing the strengths and expertise of both agencies.

USAR's Five Major Functional Elements:

• Search
• Rescue
• Technical
• Medical
• Heavy Equipment

The Marin County USAR team is designed to be totally self-sufficient for the first 48 hours of operation. Specialized equipment includes concrete and steel cutting tools, breaking devices, portable generators, power saws, drills, air bags, lighting, ropes and other technical rescue items. Other equipment carried by the three designated rescue units includes medical supplies, hazardous materials and radiation monitors, protective clothing, victim locating devices, search cameras, water rescue boats, communication equipment, and a laptop computer.

Southern Marin Fire Protection District currently has numerous participating members on the county-wide Urban Search and Rescue Team.