A Novato police officer turned the city’s downtown station into a temporary home this week. Retired educators returned to Marin campuses, prepared to teach. And across the county, fundraisers were launched to support coworkers and friends.
As deadly wildfires continued their path of destruction this week, many Marin emergency responders and educators found themselves torn between the county they swore to protect and serve and their threatened North Bay homes.
“The show must go on for us,” said Novato police Chief Adam McGill. “We must not only protect Novato, but we’re contributing to the efforts as well. It’s devastating.”
The homes of two Novato Police Department employees were destroyed and 15 workers were evacuated from their homes. One officer was forced to evacuate his Santa Rosa family three times from different dwellings before reporting for a mid-week graveyard shift.