About Us

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Brian McNamara serves as the Executive Director of the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council (EMCFSC), where he leverages over 26 years of experience in the non-profit sector to enhance community safety and wildfire preparedness. In addition to his leadership role at EMCFSC, Brian is the resident leader of his local Firewise Community, demonstrating his commitment to fostering resilience and proactive fire prevention strategies at the grassroots level.

Brian's extensive background includes a successful career as a general contractor and real estate developer, giving him a unique perspective on integrating safety and sustainability in community planning and development. His multifaceted expertise ensures that EMCFSC continues to innovate and effectively address the evolving challenges of wildfire risk in Eastern Madera County.

I am currently serving as the Education and Outreach Director and a Project Developer for Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council. When I was born, my father worked at the North Fork sawmill. Talk of forest health and responsible land stewardship was prevalent over the dinner table.  When I moved my family back into the area we were just beginning to see a  rapid increase in widespread devastating wildfires. With a background in outreach and education, I put my focus on obtaining the skills I needed to be an active participant in wildfire mitigation. Taking my stewardship skills to another level, I obtained training in Wildland Firefighting and Wildfire Risk Assessment.  I completed certification and training in Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices through the National Forest Service in Partnership with Coalitions and Collaboratives, as well as training on environmental compliance from UC Davis. My next training goal is to complete my California Burn Boss Certification and to join a CMAT effort. I am also a Firewise Community leader and am partnering with Coarsegold Resource Conservation District to bring wildfire prevention and preparation skills to our mountain community youth through a rich education program. I am proudly serving as a member of the Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperative and am excited to share the opportunity to help our land-owners learn to harness the benefits and learn strategies related to prescribed fire.  

"I am a Realtor with Bass Lake Realty, and work with clients to get their homes fire safe during each sale. I have been evacuated a number of times, and in the 2022 Fork Fire, nearly lost my home. Before I became a Realtor in 2000, I also worked in the past as an Interpretive Ranger and Resource Technician at Glacier Bay National Park; a Natural Resource Technician for the State of Alaska; a Killer Whale Researcher; a Research Assistant for other work on humpback whales and elephant seals; and as a writer, copywriter, teacher, editor, graphic artist, commercial fisherman, restaurateur, chef, carpenter, welder and more. I have a degree in Biology from UCSC, and have traveled extensively around the world. fire burned all of my neighbor's homes except another house that had goats which kept the weeds down, and our home, which was well weed-whacked. We were fortunate that it was also where the firefighters held the line on our driveway. We returned home to find our white chickens were pink after being "decorated" by the planes dropping fire retardant on them. 

I am happy to be of service to anyone looking to improve fire safety near their house or in the area or to refer them to the people who can."

"I am currently the Executive Director of Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD).  I’ve called North Fork home since 1992, attending North Fork Elementary, Sierra High School, and later Fresno State. This community, both the people and the natural beauty of our environment, make this amazing place to call home.  I have been thrilled to work with CRCD and connect with our community as the Regional Firewise Coordinator for Madera County.  I look forward to participating in the effort to conserve the natural resources of eastern Madera County through my service with Coarsegold Resource Conservation District and Eastern Madera Fire Safe Council. I share a small homestead in North Fork with my amazing wife and two beautiful children, where we live amongst our dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, goats, and a variety of organic fruits and vegetables."

Growing up in Oakhurst, Kevin’s childhood was spent going to Yosemite National Park, filling him with a sense of belonging and a higher purpose. Kevin studied Sustainability and minored in Natural Resource and Environmental Geography at San Diego State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He worked in arboriculture and the ecosystem restoration field for several years in San Diego and Wisconsin, providing him with a perspective on areas unlike the one he grew up in. 

Kevin has a background in fieldwork and is excited to begin working in project management so that he can have a larger impact. He’s an ISA TRAQ Certified Arborist with a passion for implementing sustainable solutions for many of the issues associated with climate change and urbanization. Kevin is excited to serve his Fellowship in his hometown and to learn about the behind-the-scenes work associated with implementing fuels reduction grants, managing subcontractors, and utilizing GIS software and surveying to create informative displays. 

In his free time, he’s an avid rock climber, and loves fitness, reading, and being outdoors in general. He’s always looking for new places to climb, hike, or camp and looks forward to protecting the place he grew up in for generations to come.