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Fire district outlines weed‑abatement, fuel‑break and Firewise progress; schedules preparedness events
Summary
The Los Altos Hills County Fire District reported on coordination with county weed‑abatement inspections, shaded‑fuel‑break milestones and an RFP, Firewise community engagement (about 25,000 volunteer hours over two years), HIZ rebate activity, and a May 2 wildfire preparedness day at town hall.
Denise (Speaker 12), representing the Los Altos Hills County Fire District, gave a semi‑annual status report to the EPRC on April 7 covering defensible‑space inspections, weed‑abatement coordination, shaded fuel‑break planning, rebates for home‑hardening (HIZ), and community preparedness activities.
Denise said county‑issued defensible‑space letters and inspections are part of a parallel process involving county weed abatement and the district; residents on the county list receive mailed notices with QR codes and a self‑inspection option. She said the district also issues letters and outreach to coordinate with the county.
On shaded fuel breaks, Denise said the program’s first phase (Page Mill cloverleaf) has been kicked off, an RFP for contractor work is expected to be released by the end of the month, and active work is planned to resume after the FIFA window (anticipated August). She said the HIZ rebate pilot that began in 2023 has continued and that reforms extended the time residents have to complete work, increasing participation.
Denise presented volunteer statistics showing almost 11,000 hours of mitigation work in 2024 and nearly 14,000 hours in 2025 (a two‑year total of about 25,000 resident volunteer hours). She said chipping and removal across Firewise communities totaled roughly 50,000 cubic yards in 2025, and financial investment in Firewise‑related activities was about $1.2 million in 2024 and $2.7 million in 2025 (roughly $3.9 million over two years).
The district also listed training and outreach: preparedness classes (hybrid format), a first‑aid class, the third annual wildfire preparedness day on May 2 at town hall (limited in‑person seating and hybrid participation), and tabling opportunities at town events. Denise encouraged EPRC participation in outreach and Firewise representation at events.
