by Chief Robert Marcucci (ret), San Rafael Fire Department
San Rafael Hill looms over downtown San Rafael at a height of 660 feet. San Rafael Hill, prior to 1970 had a cross erected near the peak of the hill visible throughout down town San Rafael. Each year Easter Services were held at the cross and during the Christmas Holidays the cross was lite with multi colored lights.
San Rafael Hill was also the setting of many vegetation fires throughout the years. At the top of San Rafael Hill is a public safety radio installation for Fire and Police agencies. Situated on the East side of the hill just down from the peak is a structure housing private radio transmitters and receivers with a large antenna in height.
San Rafael Hill’s mid-section accommodates many single-family dwellings off narrow streets. The north side of the hill faces the Los Ranchitos neighborhood with the east side facing Lincoln Avenue, the south side Mission Avenue and the downtown area. The western aspect faces the Fairhills neighborhood.
The Falkirk Mansion, Elks Club Lodge and Boyd Park have properties that back into San Rafael Hill. Access to the top of the Hill is by an unimproved dirt road gated near the intersection where Robert Dollar Drive intersects with Tampa Road. Access is also gained to the top of the hill, on the North Easterly side through a gate terminating at the end of Chula Vista Drive.
As indicted earlier, there have been numerous vegetation fires on the hill, but none involving structures until the fire on June 14, 1976.
The vegetation on the lower section of the hill along Graceland, Tampa, Curtis and Robert Dollar Drive is primary (light fuel) grass. The mid and upper sections contain heavier fuels primary brush, gorse and trees.
Near the top of the hill facing Los Ranchitos neighborhood is a 1.5-million-gallon Marin Municipal Water District storage tank use to supply water to the residents in the Lincoln Avenue area. There are no hydrants on Robert Dollar Drive nor on the unimproved road leading to the top of the hill. Water Tenders are required to support engine company suppression efforts.
The fire on June 14,1976 was started by a 12-year-old boy around 11am, who was playing with matches in the grass in the vicinity of a small soccer field located between Robert Dollar Drive, Curtis Avenue and Tampa Drive. The fire was observed by witness who reported the incident. The young man was apprehended and when questioned admitted playing with matches, but thought he had put the fires out and returned to his home in the immediate area.
On the day of the fire, the temperature was79 degrees, winds were 12mph from the west, humility was 60% and the last precipitation was on April 12. Rainfall from the beginning of the rainy season beginning in October 1975 through June14,1976 was only 13.33 inches, with 7.31 inches in 1976. The limited rainfall was considered a contributing factor in the rapid spread of the fire. The first units to arrive on scene found the fire had already jumped the upper section of Robert Dollar Drive and was extending in a north westerly direction behind the homes on Tampa and Graceland Drive and beginning to spread toward the peak of San Rafael Hill eventually reaching the crest of the hill.
The fire was also spreading in a South Westerly direction in the dry grass behind the homes on Curtis Avenue. Several homes on Curtis Avenue were damaged by the extension of the fire, before it jumped across the lower section of Robert Dollar Drive extending behind Boyd Park the Elks Lodge and Falkirk before turning up hill into the Fairhills neighborhood.
A Chief Officer from the Marin County Fire Department who was in San Rafael at the time of the fire responded to the scene. Seeing the extent of the fire and its rapid spread with the potential for structural loss, suggested he notify Woodacre (Marin County Fire Department Headquarters) and request air craft from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The request for air craft during the early stage of the fire was instrumental in saving structures in the Fairhills and Tampa Drive area.
San Rafael Hill was also the setting of many vegetation fires throughout the years. At the top of San Rafael Hill is a public safety radio installation for Fire and Police agencies. Situated on the East side of the hill just down from the peak is a structure housing private radio transmitters and receivers with a large antenna in height.
San Rafael Hill’s mid-section accommodates many single-family dwellings off narrow streets. The north side of the hill faces the Los Ranchitos neighborhood with the east side facing Lincoln Avenue, the south side Mission Avenue and the downtown area. The western aspect faces the Fairhills neighborhood.
The Falkirk Mansion, Elks Club Lodge and Boyd Park have properties that back into San Rafael Hill. Access to the top of the Hill is by an unimproved dirt road gated near the intersection where Robert Dollar Drive intersects with Tampa Road. Access is also gained to the top of the hill, on the North Easterly side through a gate terminating at the end of Chula Vista Drive.
As indicted earlier, there have been numerous vegetation fires on the hill, but none involving structures until the fire on June 14, 1976.
The vegetation on the lower section of the hill along Graceland, Tampa, Curtis and Robert Dollar Drive is primary (light fuel) grass. The mid and upper sections contain heavier fuels primary brush, gorse and trees.
Near the top of the hill facing Los Ranchitos neighborhood is a 1.5-million-gallon Marin Municipal Water District storage tank use to supply water to the residents in the Lincoln Avenue area. There are no hydrants on Robert Dollar Drive nor on the unimproved road leading to the top of the hill. Water Tenders are required to support engine company suppression efforts.
The fire on June 14,1976 was started by a 12-year-old boy around 11am, who was playing with matches in the grass in the vicinity of a small soccer field located between Robert Dollar Drive, Curtis Avenue and Tampa Drive. The fire was observed by witness who reported the incident. The young man was apprehended and when questioned admitted playing with matches, but thought he had put the fires out and returned to his home in the immediate area.
On the day of the fire, the temperature was79 degrees, winds were 12mph from the west, humility was 60% and the last precipitation was on April 12. Rainfall from the beginning of the rainy season beginning in October 1975 through June14,1976 was only 13.33 inches, with 7.31 inches in 1976. The limited rainfall was considered a contributing factor in the rapid spread of the fire. The first units to arrive on scene found the fire had already jumped the upper section of Robert Dollar Drive and was extending in a north westerly direction behind the homes on Tampa and Graceland Drive and beginning to spread toward the peak of San Rafael Hill eventually reaching the crest of the hill.
The fire was also spreading in a South Westerly direction in the dry grass behind the homes on Curtis Avenue. Several homes on Curtis Avenue were damaged by the extension of the fire, before it jumped across the lower section of Robert Dollar Drive extending behind Boyd Park the Elks Lodge and Falkirk before turning up hill into the Fairhills neighborhood.
A Chief Officer from the Marin County Fire Department who was in San Rafael at the time of the fire responded to the scene. Seeing the extent of the fire and its rapid spread with the potential for structural loss, suggested he notify Woodacre (Marin County Fire Department Headquarters) and request air craft from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The request for air craft during the early stage of the fire was instrumental in saving structures in the Fairhills and Tampa Drive area.
T he above map shows the location where the fire started (Red Circle). The fire initially began to spread from this location Southerly toward Curtis Avenue and North toward Tampa and Graceland Drive. The fire eventually jumped the upper section of Robert Dollar Drive and began spreading in a Northerly and Westerly direction.
This fire was uncharacteristic, as vegetation fires during this period normally did not spread as rapidly, especially in multiple directions as this fire did. It was evident to first arriving units that due to the rapid spread of the fire, that mutual aid resources were going to be required, as all San Rafael units were already committed to various locations in an attempt to control the rapid spreading fire. Mutual aid units were committed from all Marin County fire departments, as well as out of County fire resources.
The fire traveled in a northwesterly direction behind Boyd Park, Falkirk and the Elks Lodge before entering the Fairhills neighborhood. Separating the Fairhills neighborhood from San Rafael Hill is a large drainage extending from the vicinity of Los Ranchitos to behind the Elks Lodge and Falkirk.
The fire progressed along the lower level of San Rafael Hill and then extended into the Fairhills neighborhood eventually burning through Twin Oaks Avenue and Live Oak Way before heading directly toward Wildwood Way. Engine Companies were strategically placed throughout the Fairhills neighborhood to protect structures.
This fire was uncharacteristic, as vegetation fires during this period normally did not spread as rapidly, especially in multiple directions as this fire did. It was evident to first arriving units that due to the rapid spread of the fire, that mutual aid resources were going to be required, as all San Rafael units were already committed to various locations in an attempt to control the rapid spreading fire. Mutual aid units were committed from all Marin County fire departments, as well as out of County fire resources.
The fire traveled in a northwesterly direction behind Boyd Park, Falkirk and the Elks Lodge before entering the Fairhills neighborhood. Separating the Fairhills neighborhood from San Rafael Hill is a large drainage extending from the vicinity of Los Ranchitos to behind the Elks Lodge and Falkirk.
The fire progressed along the lower level of San Rafael Hill and then extended into the Fairhills neighborhood eventually burning through Twin Oaks Avenue and Live Oak Way before heading directly toward Wildwood Way. Engine Companies were strategically placed throughout the Fairhills neighborhood to protect structures.
Betty and Charles Dougherty were watching the fire from outside their home, on 30 Wildwood Way. Dick Grady, their next-door neighbor came home from work to watch the blaze as it sweeps up and around the hill.
On Wildwood Way, the Grandi family watched with apprehension as the firefighters struggled to contain the flames. For a while the fire seemed contained “We went back in the house, it seemed contained, “said Mrs. Dougherty. She and her husband sat down in the dining room for a sandwich and coffee. All of a sudden, I happen to look outside the window and it was on our deck burning. “My wife said “look at the flames! they are right outside,” said her husband. The house was engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes. “We took the car and ran!
Dick Grady saw the fire coming, and hit the Dougherty house. At first, he was not too concerned, “We get these fires about every two years”, “but when I saw it pass the creek and hit the brush it was “anchors away”, it just exploded. “You never saw anything move that fast. If you were on foot, you couldn’t have come up the hill as fast as the fire” Grady said.
“We were watching and hoping the firefighters would cut off the fire, but it got out of control,” said Matt Grandi. The Grandi’s had been watching the fire with binoculars from an enclosed patio. Some flames were in the quarry, below raising swiftly up the hill.”
Mrs. Grandi’s husband climbed to the roof and began spraying it with a garden hose. Suddenly firefighters arrived and ordered the home evacuated. The family grabbed their pets a few articles of clothing and left the home.
S hortly after the fire hit Wildwood Way, its forward progress was stopped some three hours from its initial ignition point below Robert Dollar and Tampa Drive. Full containment of the fire occurred shortly after the forward progress of the fire was stopped. Fire units remained on scene throughout the night.
Among the damaged homes in the Fairhills neighborhood, was one valued at $300,000 which was totally destroyed. Damage to another was estimated to be between $125,000 and $130,000. Homes were also damaged on Curtis Avenue. The fire burned about 50 acres of grass and brush. Two firefighters suffered facial burns and three San Rafael Firefighters were felled by smoke inhalation. Eight jurisdictions supported San Rafael Fire in suppression of the fire.
The map below shows the perimeter of the fire, from it point of origin. It traveled Northly behind, the homes on Tampa and Graceland Drive, South Westerly behind the homes on Curtis Avenue where it ignited several homes. The fire then jumped the lower section of Robert Dollar Drive, burning behind Boyd Park the Elks Lodge and Falkirk Manson, before turning up hill through the drainage separating San Rafael Hill and Fair Hills neighborhood, before it rolled into Wildwood Way.
On Wildwood Way, the Grandi family watched with apprehension as the firefighters struggled to contain the flames. For a while the fire seemed contained “We went back in the house, it seemed contained, “said Mrs. Dougherty. She and her husband sat down in the dining room for a sandwich and coffee. All of a sudden, I happen to look outside the window and it was on our deck burning. “My wife said “look at the flames! they are right outside,” said her husband. The house was engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes. “We took the car and ran!
Dick Grady saw the fire coming, and hit the Dougherty house. At first, he was not too concerned, “We get these fires about every two years”, “but when I saw it pass the creek and hit the brush it was “anchors away”, it just exploded. “You never saw anything move that fast. If you were on foot, you couldn’t have come up the hill as fast as the fire” Grady said.
“We were watching and hoping the firefighters would cut off the fire, but it got out of control,” said Matt Grandi. The Grandi’s had been watching the fire with binoculars from an enclosed patio. Some flames were in the quarry, below raising swiftly up the hill.”
Mrs. Grandi’s husband climbed to the roof and began spraying it with a garden hose. Suddenly firefighters arrived and ordered the home evacuated. The family grabbed their pets a few articles of clothing and left the home.
S hortly after the fire hit Wildwood Way, its forward progress was stopped some three hours from its initial ignition point below Robert Dollar and Tampa Drive. Full containment of the fire occurred shortly after the forward progress of the fire was stopped. Fire units remained on scene throughout the night.
Among the damaged homes in the Fairhills neighborhood, was one valued at $300,000 which was totally destroyed. Damage to another was estimated to be between $125,000 and $130,000. Homes were also damaged on Curtis Avenue. The fire burned about 50 acres of grass and brush. Two firefighters suffered facial burns and three San Rafael Firefighters were felled by smoke inhalation. Eight jurisdictions supported San Rafael Fire in suppression of the fire.
The map below shows the perimeter of the fire, from it point of origin. It traveled Northly behind, the homes on Tampa and Graceland Drive, South Westerly behind the homes on Curtis Avenue where it ignited several homes. The fire then jumped the lower section of Robert Dollar Drive, burning behind Boyd Park the Elks Lodge and Falkirk Manson, before turning up hill through the drainage separating San Rafael Hill and Fair Hills neighborhood, before it rolled into Wildwood Way.
Ironically, once the fire was contained, Firefighters having a vantage point to look west spotted smoke and flames coming from the Mr. Tamalpais Cemetery, at the end of 5th Avenue in the Sun Valley neighborhood section of the city. The fire was burning in a large grove of eucalyptus trees and quickly burned through the cemetery, jumped a ridge and began burning down into San Anselmo at the end of San Francisco Blvd, on the other side of the cemetery. The San Rafael Fire Marshall was the first officer to arrive at the cemetery and said” that the fire was suspicious as here were three separate fires burning in different location in the cemetery”