Mill Valley Taps Google For Wildfire Evacuation Study

MILL VALLEY, CA — Mill Balley partnered with Google researchers on a high-tech study designed to help the city make targeted improvements to its evacuation plans in the event of a devastating wildfire.

"We know that wildfire is a substantial risk to Mill Valley, both in property damage and possible loss of life," said John McCauley, the former mayor who led the effort. "With our partnership with Google Research, Mill Valley is harnessing cutting-edge simulations to tackle the issue head-on."

The study's findings revealed some big lessons, including that directing evacuees to a less-trafficked Hamilton Drive on-ramp could cut evacuation times by nearly two hours. Researchers also learned that directing residents to evacuate using a single vehicle significantly sped up the evacuation process during simulations.

The scope of the study included more than 11,400 households in Mill Valley and Marin County located west of Highway 101, simulating several evacuation scenarios via real road data. Researchers also considered using places like Bayfront Park and Tamalpais High School as refuge areas where residents could wait safely while a fire progresses. Officials said both areas were studied due to minimal vegetation and capacity for more than 4,000 vehicles.

"We want to thank Google Research for their partnership on this significant project," said City Manager Todd Cusimano. "As wildfire risks continue to rise due to extreme drought and weather events, these evacuation planning insights are vital to safeguard Mill Valley residents."

More details from the study are available online, and key findings will be presented during a City Council meeting Monday, Oct. 16, starting at 5:30 p.m.