Continuing an Earth Day tradition that we started in 2006, the Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition held a Weed Pull to remove fire-prone vegetation on Saturday, April 23. This year, we partnered with the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership (CVNL), the San Rafael Fire Department (SRFD), San Pedro Ridge Fire Safety, and Friends of China Camp (FOCC).
As in previous years, we had a great turn out and our hardworking volunteers made a very visible difference! The volunteers worked near the intersection of Pt. San Pedro Road and Biscayne Drive. The ground was softened by rains which was helpful. Equipped with weed wrenches, volunteers were easily able to remove even large plants.
With help from our partners, we cleared highly flammable invasive broom, and filled the largest size debris box available to the very top. We continue to reduce wildfire risk in our area while building great relationships with other organizations. Check out the photos below to see the progress that was made! In addition to these photos, Justin Malo (S.R. Fire Department) created this time lapse video of the day’s work which is really cool to watch.
SPR Coalition Co-President Bonnie Marmor and CERT volunteer Paula Doubleday (seated) at registration table. Volunteer weed puller Maggie Phillips signs in before getting to work. 
David Littlejohn of FOCC demonstrated use of a weed wrench to volunteers. 
Before work began, invasive broom covered this area near the intersection of Pt. San Pedro Road and Biscayne Drive. 
By the end of the day, this same area looked much different with all the fire-prone vegetation removed. 
Volunteers go to work in the early morning sun. 
Even large broom plants were removed easily from the soil softened by recent rains. 
Volunteers used tarps to haul the broom to the debris box. 
Maggie Phillips, SPR Coalition Disaster Preparedness Committee member wearing a FOCC T-shirt — and a smile — as she worked. 
Progress after just a few hours 
Proud volunteers at the end of the day with the full debris box. 
After the weed pull, SPR Coalition Co-President Bonnie Marmor, San Rafael Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Specialists Simon Wright and Justin Goger Malo from San Rafael Fire Department’s Team, and Alanna Wendt, from CVNL stand in the area now cleared of flammable broom plants!