Line of Duty Death
Southern Marin Fire Protection District regrets to announce the Line of Duty Death of Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Powers, 44, on June 26th, 2008 in Sausalito, California.
Jeffrey Victor Powers
December 6th, 1963 - June 26th, 2008
Deputy Chief Powers started his fire service career as a volunteer at Alto-Richardson Bay Fire in the 1980’s. He then became an apprentice firefighter for Corte Madera Fire and was hired full time by Mill Valley Fire in 1988. In 1994, he transferred to Tamalpais Fire which evolved into today’s Southern Marin Fire Protection District.
Always known as a respected colleague and an enormously active citizen, his warm presence will be truly missed.
He was a lifelong resident of Marin County and lived in San Rafael with his family. He graduated from Marin Catholic in 1982 and received his Fire Science Certification through the College of Marin and Santa Rosa Junior College.
He was constantly expanding his education and promoted through the ranks as an Engineer, a Captain, a Battalion Chief, and held the rank of Deputy Fire Chief upon his untimely passing.
Deputy Chief Powers leaves behind his wife, Joann, and two boys, ages 14 and 11. Jeff was a devoted husband and a proud father who was very involved in his sons’ sports programs. Please join us with providing thoughts, prayers, and support to his family at this tragic time.
On July 1st, 2008, Deputy Chief Powers was remembered in a memorial service attended by hundreds of family, friends, and uniformed personnel. Pictures of the event taken by our department photographer can be viewed here, as well as pictures taken by members of the San Ramon Valley Fire Department Honor Guard.
Donations for Deputy Chief Powers’ family can be made to the Trust for Matthew and Anthony Powers c/o West America Bank, 64 West Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley, CA.
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About Southern Marin Fire Protection District
Southern Marin Fire Protection District is an independent special district established by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in July of 1999. The District was formed by the merger of the Alto-Richardson Fire Protection District and the Tamalpais Fire Protection District. On July 1, 2006 the City of Sausalito Fire Department joined with SMFD under a Contract for Services. The Fire District now serves the communities of Tamalpais Valley, Almonte, Homestead Valley, Alto, Strawberry, approximately 1/3 of the town of Tiburon, as well as the City of Sausalito. The District covers 11.5 square miles, a population of approximately 27,700 and over 14,100 homes and commercial properties. The District has 52 full time employees including a chief, a deputy chief, 3 battalion chiefs, 9 captains, 2 lieutenants, 36 firefighters/engineers (15 of whom are also paramedics), 2 administrative staff, and 10 reserve firefighters.
The District operates three stations, and responds to over 4,000 incidents per year. The headquarters station in Strawberry serves as the administrative offices and houses an Engine, Paramedic Medium Rescue, and the Battalion Chief. The Tamalpais Valley station houses a Type 1 (Municipal) Engine, a Type 3 (Wildland) Engine, and a Paramedic Ambulance. The Sausalito station houses an Engine, Ladder Truck, and a Paramedic Ambulance. The crews there cross-staff the Fireboat, an Inflatable Rescue Boat, and are members of the Dive Team.
The District is governed by a seven member Board of Directors, and there are five members on the Sausalito City Council. Members of the District
Board, and City Council are elected by the residents and serve four year terms. The District Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Headquarters Fire Station, 308 Reed Blvd, Mill Valley. We encourage the public to attend and participate in District Board Meetings. Sausalito City Counsel meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
In addition to our own area, the District provides paramedic ambulance service to the City of Mill Valley, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Beach, and the Muir Woods National Monument. The District also provides a regional rescue unit which serves all of the above areas and the Tiburon peninsula and the Golden Gate Bridge area. Mission Statement
Southern Marin Fire Protection District will strive for excellence in the performance of our duty and service to the community and the customers we serve. We are committed in finding better ways of protecting the lives and property of our citizens from the ravages of fire and other disasters and devoted in working together for the betterment of our community.
Ethics and Values
Knowing that firefighters are held to a higher standard of conduct, the firefighters of the Southern Marin Protection District will make every effort to uphold those standards that are entrusted to us. We will take an active role in maintaining a professional image of the Fire Service through promptness, efficiency and dedication to duty.
Communicating with the Public
We will serve the public with courtesy and respect, providing assistance wherever our skills and talents are needed. We will be ever vigilant in promoting awareness of fire hazards and in educating our citizens of all ages.