Frequently Asked Questions

What will the Marin County Fire Headquarters Facility look like?

​A design for the facility has not yet been developed. The County expects to select a design team in early summer 2026, with preliminary plans anticipated in fall 2026.

The project is intended to reflect the rural character of the San Geronimo Valley and integrate thoughtfully with the surrounding natural landscape. Community input gathered to date will be shared with the design team to help inform early site planning and architectural visions, including opportunities to enhance community access to trails and open space.

As the design progresses, decisions will balance operational needs, environmental considerations, fiscal responsibility, and community input. The goal is to create a facility that supports firefighter readiness while respecting the Valley’s character and natural beauty.

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How is community input being considered?

The County is committed to a transparent and inclusive public engagement process. Community members will have multiple opportunities to participate through public meetings, workshops, surveys, and online updates.

Feedback will be shared with the design and construction teams to help guide site planning and facility design. Ongoing updates and engagement opportunities are available at MCFD.HeadquartersProject.org, where community members can stay informed and provide input throughout the project.
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How much will the project cost, and how will it be funded?

​The project is currently estimated at approximately $71 million. Funding will come from a combination of previously allocated fire facility funds and debt financing.

Marin County has been planning and saving for fire facility improvements since the 2010 Fire Facilities Visioning Plan.

Key factors influencing the cost include:
•    State-mandated seismic and safety standards for essential emergency facilities
•    Specialized building systems required for fire and emergency operations
•    High regional construction costs and recent market increases

The estimated cost per square foot is consistent with comparable fire facilities across California. The County will continue to evaluate cost-saving opportunities throughout design and construction while ensuring the facility meets operational and community needs for decades to come.
 

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Why does Marin County Fire need a new training facility?

The Department’s primary training site at the former U.S. Coast Guard facility in Point Reyes (Commodore Webster) is being converted to housing and will no longer be available for fire training. Without a replacement facility, fire agencies would lose access to critical infrastructure needed for hands-on training and maintaining firefighter readiness.

Firefighters must regularly train to respond safely to a wide range of emergencies, including wildland and structure fires, rescues, medical incidents, and disasters. Training facilities are purpose-built environments that meet strict Cal/OSHA and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

A dedicated training facility ensures firefighters can safely develop and maintain essential skills while supporting broader community preparedness and resilience.

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Why locate the training facility in San Geronimo Valley?

Marin County Fire Department (MCFD) is the largest fire agency in the county, with approximately 300 firefighters during peak season who require ongoing training.

Locating a training facility within the Department’s response area allows crews to remain available for emergency calls while training. When crews must travel outside their service area, fire engines are temporarily taken out of service, requiring overtime staffing or coverage from neighboring agencies.
 

A centralized West Marin facility improves response readiness, reduces operational costs, and allows firefighters to train efficiently while remaining in service.

Although training facilities exist in San Rafael and Novato, those facilities are fully utilized by their respective departments and cannot support MCFD’s daily training needs or regional academy programs.

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How will the training facility be used?

The training facility will support both year-round and seasonal personnel. During peak fire season, staffing increases significantly, and many seasonal firefighters require structured, hands-on training.

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The facility will be designed to provide realistic training environments while minimizing environmental impacts. Firefighting foam will not be used. Smoke machines will be incorporated to simulate realistic conditions, including:

• Live fire containers producing black smoke

• White smoke machines within the training tower

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Training activities will focus on skill development, equipment use, and team coordination using safe, controlled methods.

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The site will also support Marin County Fire’s Special Operations teams, including:

• Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Regional Task Force 1

• Cal OES Swiftwater Rescue Team

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These teams respond to complex emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and rescues. A dedicated facility allows for coordinated, ongoing training to ensure effective emergency response.

Geronimo? 

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MCFD hosts Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Regional Task Force 1, one of the few specialized disaster response teams in the state. Having a dedicated training facility ensures engine companies and USAR personnel can train without leaving geographical gaps in emergency coverage. It also reduces travel time, improves operational efficiency, and minimizes overtime costs related to backfilling crews who travel long distances for training. 

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How will the training facility be used? 

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MCFD expands from about 150 year-round personnel to roughly 310 during fire season, and many seasonal firefighters are early in their careers and require intensive, ongoing training. The headquarters facility would support this need while being appropriately scaled and designed with input from the San Geronimo Valley community. MCFD is committed to ensuring the facility is safe, environmentally responsible, and aligned with community expectations. 

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How will this project be delivered?

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The County is using a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) method. This approach brings designers, builders, and engineers together as one integrated team, improving cost control, collaboration, and schedule efficiency. 

Contractor-led teams, including architects and engineers, will be interviewed and selected in early 2026. 

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What is the timeframe to complete the project?

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The schedule continues to be refined. The project is currently expected to be completed in winter 2028–2029.  

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Will the public still be allowed on the property?

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Yes. Fire Headquarters is a public facility serving the entire county, including the San Geronimo Valley and West Marin. Public features, including trails, parking, and the community garden, are expected to remain accessible. Core fire operational areas, such as training, emergency response, equipment storage, and staffing will be restricted to fire personnel to ensure the safety of everyone.  

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Can I continue to ride my horses?

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Yes. Equestrian access on the trails will continue to be welcomed. 

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Will public access be disturbed by construction?

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Some access impacts are likely during construction, but specific details are not yet known. The County and the selected contractor will work to minimize disruptions. Community garden users will receive specific guidance to maintain access as safely as possible. 

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Can the trails serve as a Safe Routes to School?

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The property’s trails currently connect the Sir Francis Drake underpass with the Nicasio Valley Road overpass. Public access will remain, although alignments may shift during construction or design. 

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Community members have suggested the opportunity to create a continuous trail system connecting Woodacre to the school without requiring travel on vehicle roads. A future Safe Routes to School connection through the HQ property is a possibility and will be explored as planning continues.  

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What sustainable design features will be considered?

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The project is committed to strong sustainable design and will follow: 

• The Countywide Plan 

• The Climate Action Plan 2030 

• All State of California energy requirements 

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Specific features are still being evaluated. Community feedback so far has emphasized: 

• Dark-sky compliant lighting to reduce light pollution 

• Stormwater management to help protect nearby creeks 

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These and other environmentally responsible strategies will be considered where feasible and appropriate for the site. 

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What is Marin County Park’s role?

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The Fire Headquarters will be located on one of four County-owned parcels within the San Geronimo Commons. The parcel designated for the new headquarters, north of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near Nicasio Valley Road, is not managed by Marin County Parks (MCP). 

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Marin County Parks does manage the nearby San Geronimo Meadow parcel and the Larson Meadow parcel, both of which will continue to support passive recreation and open space uses. All parcels contain deed restrictions that limit development, and the Park-managed parcels are additionally guided by a conservation easement held by the Marin Open Space Trust, which further defines allowable uses. 

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The Marin County Fire Department and Marin County Parks, have a strong working relationship and will continue partnering to ensure that trails, open space access, and community benefits across the Commons area are maintained and enhanced for generations to enjoy. 

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What will happen to the Woodacre Property?

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Once the new headquarters opens, the Woodacre property will likely be vacated by the Fire Department and revert to general County ownership. Decisions about the property’s future use will occur through a separate County process and are not part of the Fire HQ project. Past community conversations have included ideas such as affordable housing, but no decisions have been made.