Novato Fire Protection District

Calling all Marin County high school seniors interested in a career in the fire service!

The Novato Fire Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026 Steven L. Rucker Memorial Scholarship. One $3,000 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior pursuing higher education in Fire Technology, Fire Science, EMT, Paramedic training, or a related fire service program.

Established in memory of firefighter Steven L. Rucker, this scholarship supports students dedicated to serving their communities through the fire service.

Applications are due by July 15, 2026

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/StevenRuckerScholarship

Academy 2026.1 is officially underway.

Please welcome recruits Dylan, Dalton, Nikolas, Jeffrey, Alec, Bella, Matthew, and Evyn as they begin the next several months of academy training with Novato Fire.

At eight recruits, this is Novato Fire’s largest academy in more than 20 years. The group brings a mix of fire and EMS experience from agencies across the region, including former reserve firefighters and a former NFD Explorer.

Their academy runs through August, when they’ll officially graduate and begin serving the Novato community.

Stay tuned for academy updates throughout the summer!

Our medic units may have all the fancy equipment, but it’s the people that make all of the difference. In honor of EMS Week, we’re recognizing the firefighter paramedics and engineer paramedics of Novato Fire who show up every shift ready to help, problem solve, adapt, and take care of our community through whatever the day brings.

From code 3 calls to lift assists and everything in between, our paramedics bring skill, compassion, humor, and a whole lot of teamwork to every shift.

Thank you for doing the hard stuff, the messy stuff, and the “this definitely wasn’t in the job announcement” stuff for our community every day.

Congratulations to Captain Bargiacchi, Captain Zagaris, and Prevention Assistant/Fire Inspector Wade on graduating from Leadership Novato!

Through collaboration and community-focused projects, Leadership Novato helps participants better understand and serve the Novato community. We’re proud of our members for stepping up and representing Novato Fire.

Thank you, Leadership Novato for another great year!

Playing in the sandbox is serious business.

During recent RT-130 refresher training, crews used a wildland fire topography model to walk through scenarios, discuss tactics, and sharpen decision-making ahead of wildland season. Crews also spent time in the classroom reviewing local response areas, mutual aid regions, and lessons learned from past fires.

Now’s the time to:
• Sign up for AlertMarin and Nixle emergency notifications
• Create and maintain defensible space
• Know your evacuation zone and have a plan

We’re prepared. Are you?

A fire sprinkler system can make all the difference.

Residential fire sprinklers respond quickly to heat, often controlling a fire before it can spread and giving families valuable time to get out safely.

Sprinklers save lives.

🔥🚒 It’s Home Fire Sprinkler Week! 🚒🔥

Did you know that home fire sprinklers can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by about 90%? These systems respond quickly, often controlling or extinguishing a fire before firefighters even arrive — giving families valuable time to escape safely.

Modern home fire sprinklers are:
✅ Fast-acting
✅ Reliable
✅ Designed to protect lives and property
✅ Activated individually — not all at once

Fire can spread in less than 2 minutes. A home fire sprinkler system helps provide peace of mind when every second counts.

This week, help us spread awareness about the importance of residential fire sprinklers and fire-safe homes. Together, we can save lives.

Arson awareness starts at home. Talk with kids about the dangers of playing with matches, lighters, and fire, curiosity can turn dangerous in seconds. Safe habits and open conversations can help prevent tragedy.

Arson can unintentionally begin at an early age. Teach children that fire is dangerous—a small flame can quickly grow out of control. Fire is a tool, not a toy, and should only be used by adults.

Support firesetting prevention by forming partnerships between local fire departments and private sector organizations. Together, we can keep our communities safe.
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/arson/