Southern Marin Fire District and City of Mill Valley representatives met with Hillside and Greenwood residents to review the July 27 Hillside Fire, answer questions about emergency notifications, and discuss steps underway to strengthen wildfire preparedness.
Hillside Fire Response
The incident was officially named the Hillcrest Fire, based on its location of origin. Initial 911 calls came from residents across the canyon rather than from the Hillside neighborhood itself, making the fire’s exact location difficult to determine during the first minutes of the response.
The fire was burning mid-slope in vegetation and was not visible from many nearby homes. Incident Commander John Butler established command nearby while firefighters used lookout positions, Engine 6 observations, photographs, and aircraft to triangulate the fire’s location.
The response included eight engines, three fixed-wing aircraft, one helicopter, one bulldozer, and additional mutual-aid resources. Firefighters initiated a downhill hose attack from Blithedale Ridge with aircraft supporting suppression efforts. Additional Engines were deployed to Greenwood Way and Hillside Ave.
Crews stopped the fire’s forward progress and remained on scene for more than 24 hours monitoring and extinguishing hot spots. Officials noted that the resources assigned represented a standard vegetation fire response designed to provide an aggressive initial attack.
Investigation Remains Open
The cause of the Hillside Fire remains under investigation.
A seven-member Marin County fire investigation team conducted an extensive investigation using drones, LiDAR technology, physical evidence collection, and examination of the area of origin. Evidence of fort-building and other activity was found near the origin site, and debris in the area has since been removed.
Residents were encouraged to provide relevant information, photographs, or security-camera footage to investigators. One resident reported previous fireworks activity in the area and indicated that Ring camera footage may have captured a flash and blast. Fire officials confirmed the information could be relevant to the ongoing investigation.
Officials also noted that more than 80% of fires in the area are human-caused, reinforcing the importance of prevention and community awareness.
Emergency Alerts and Communication
Emergency notification was a major focus of the community discussion.
Several Greenwood residents said they could see helicopters, aircraft, and numerous fire apparatus but were unsure whether they should evacuate, shelter in place, or remain prepared.
Fire officials explained that emergency alerts must be based on actionable information. During the first minutes of the incident, crews were determining the fire’s exact location, potential rate of spread, weather conditions, and threat to surrounding neighborhoods.
Calm winds and improving relative humidity helped reduce the immediate threat. As the fire perimeter held, officials determined that an evacuation warning, evacuation order, or shelter-in-place order was not necessary.
Residents were also reminded of the distinction between the area’s notification systems. Alert Marin provides geographically targeted emergency instructions, including evacuation and shelter-in-place notifications, while Nixle is used for broader informational updates.
The City is exploring opportunities to provide earlier situational-awareness messages during future incidents, letting residents know that emergency crews are responding even when conditions have not reached the threshold for an evacuation alert.
Neighborhood Preparedness Matters
The Hillside neighborhood presents unique evacuation challenges because of narrow roads and limited access. Residents were encouraged to prepare before an emergency by knowing evacuation routes, maintaining a go bag, considering a one-car evacuation strategy, and identifying neighbors who may need additional assistance.
Residents who evacuate on foot during these types of fires help keep roadways available to responding apparatus.
The Neighborhood Response Group program was highlighted as another important preparedness resource. Block captains and neighborhood volunteers can help share information, identify residents who may need assistance, and build stronger neighbor-to-neighbor preparedness before an emergency occurs.
Parking on narrow hillside roads was also identified as an ongoing concern because improperly parked vehicles can limit access for fire engines and other emergency equipment.
Fuel Reduction and Defensible Space
Fire officials provided an update on wildfire prevention work throughout Mill Valley.
The Greater Mill Valley Fuel Break continues to expand, with 78 acres completed in 2025 and 173 acres established overall. Eight additional priority treatment areas include portions of Scott Valley Northeast, Hillside Avenue, west of Camino Alto, and Middle Summit Fire Road.
Defensible space inspections are also continuing throughout the community. 455 inspections have been completed in Mill Valley so far this year, with 1,475 inspections planned, including Scott Valley, Edgewood, Upper Summit, Drop Morton, and Kite Hill.
Officials emphasized that inspectors are focused on education and helping property owners understand how vegetation management and home-hardening measures can reduce wildfire risk.
The City’s Municipal Services Tax currently funds approximately 20% to 30% of vegetation clearing, steps, lanes, and trail maintenance work. The tax expires in 2028, and its proposed 10-year renewal at the same level will appear on the November ballot as Measure T.
Moving Forward
The Hillside Fire demonstrated the value of rapid initial attack, aircraft support, mutual aid, vegetation management, and community preparedness. It also identified opportunities to improve situational communication during incidents that may not require formal evacuation notifications.
Residents are encouraged to register for Alert Marin, review their Nixle settings, connect with their Neighborhood Response Group, know their evacuation routes, and prepare a household evacuation plan before the next emergency.
The Mill Valley Police Department and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District recognize that emergency communications are never a finished product. We can always do better, and we will continue working together to find the appropriate balance—the “sweet spot”—between providing timely, useful and actionable information to the community and ensuring that the information we share is accurate, clear, and appropriate for the circumstances.
Stay Alert, Prepared and Ready
Stay informed and connected by subscribing to these trusted community resources:
Emergency Notifications
* AlertMarin: Receive evacuation warnings, evacuation orders, shelter-in-place instructions and other urgent alerts. Sign up or update your information at Emergency.MarinCounty.gov.
Situational Awareness
* Mill Valley Police Nixle: Receive local public-safety alerts, advisories and information about roadway disruptions. Text 94941 to 888777 or create an account at Nixle.com for more detailed email updates.
* PulsePoint: See real-time information about nearby emergency responses.
* Watch Duty: Follow active wildfire incidents and receive fire-related updates.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
* Neighborhood Response Groups (NRGs): Join or start an NRG to strengthen neighborhood connections, prepare together and support vulnerable neighbors during emergencies. Contact Leah Curtis ( lcurtis@smfd.org ) or Kevin Ritchie ( kritchie@cityofmillvalley.gov ) for more information.
Follow Southern Marin Fire District
*
Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
