(TNS) — A new report by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury recommends the creation of a joint powers authority to coordinate wildfire preparedness and a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund preparedness efforts.

“Considering Marin’s current state of preparedness, citizens should not assume that first responders will be able to save them from the horrors of a wildfire like those experienced during Butte County’s Camp Fire,” the report states, referring to the fire in November that killed an estimated 85 people, destroying the town of Paradise and ravaging communities around it.

“The deadly threat of fire creates an urgent need for new policies for wildfire preparedness which must be implemented without delay,” says the report, which was released Thursday.

Other key recommendations include: creating a countywide vegetation management plan; hiring at least 30 new vegetation inspectors and at least eight crews focused on fuel reduction; developing a streamlined procedure to enforce vegetation citations; converting key alert systems from opt-in to opt-out; and improving evacuation plans and exit routes.

“The report accurately portrays the fire problem we have in Marin County,” said county fire Chief Jason Weber. “The grand jury highlights the fact that we need to look at this differently under the changing circumstances of climate change. I agree with that sentiment.”

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