Residents, homeowners, and local businesses in and around the North Fork area are invited to attend a community wildfire preparedness presentation on Saturday, June 27, 2026, featuring retired Fire Captain and Fire Marshal Rich Snyder of Foothill Fire Risk Solutions.
The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at North Fork Town Hall.
Captain Snyder is featured in the PBS documentary LA Firestorm—Inside the Inferno.
With more than 36 years of fire service experience — including 27 years as Fire Marshal for the City of Sierra Madre and service as an NWCG Certified Wildland Engine Boss — Captain Snyder brings unmatched expertise to one of the most urgent topics facing Sierra Nevada mountain and foothill communities: wildfire risk and home ignition.
During the presentation, Captain Snyder will share practical, real-world strategies that homeowners and property owners can take to protect their homes and families. Topics will include:
- Wildfire Risk and Mitigation
- Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Training
- Fire Prevention Basics
Captain Snyder will also share his experience and best practices on how residents and communities can effectively address the fire hazard insurance crisis.
“North Fork and the surrounding foothills face severe and mounting wildfire risk,” said Rick Hamilton, Auxiliary President. “We are proud to bring an expert of Captain Snyder’s caliber directly to our community to help residents understand what they can do right now to reduce that risk. His presentations have been featured on national and regional broadcasts.”
Throughout his career, Captain Snyder responded to dozens of wildfire incidents statewide on Cal OES Type 1 and Type 6 wildland engines and served on California state code committees, including the development of Chapter 7A (now CWUIC Title 24 Part 7), the state standard for construction methods in wildfire-exposed areas.
He now consults with homeowners, HOAs, realtors, insurance companies, and local governments across the region.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Location: North Fork Town Hall, 33060 Road 228, North Fork, CA 93643
- Admission: Free
- Seating: Limited
- Registration: Required
- RSVP/Information: nfvfda@gmail.com
- Lunch: Light lunch provided
The Future of Emergency Services
Organizers also plan to include a presentation by executives from Draganfly Inc., an award-winning, industry-leading developer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones), on the evolving uses of drone technology for medical deliveries, firefighting, and surveillance.
The presentation will highlight how these emerging technologies are being used to save lives and improve emergency response capabilities.
About the Auxiliary
This event is sponsored by the North Fork Emergency Services Auxiliary, formerly the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary, a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, provides a link between local communities and the fire and EMS crews at Station 11 that serve and protect Eastern Madera County.
