County Fire outlines expedited I‑280 shaded fuel‑break project and local outreach plans

Los Altos Hills — The Los Altos Hills County Fire District presented details to the town council on Thursday for a governor‑designated emergency shaded fuel‑break project along Interstate 280 that the district expects to begin contractor work in August and that must start under the state priority exemption by October.

Eugenia Woods, the project manager, said the project earned an emergency priority exemption that accelerates CEQA review but does not waive environmental protections. The exemption requires work to begin by October and finish by next October; the district said it must coordinate with multiple state agencies and Caltrans and that Caltrans will provide significant in‑kind support through encroachment permits and traffic control.

Woods described a contractor selection and RFP timeline, plans for rolling lane closures (constrained by encroachment permits), visual‑impact studies performed by Dudek Environmental, and a staged outreach program that will include mailers, look‑ahead notices and committee briefings. She said the shaded fuel break stretches from St. Joseph’s Avenue up to the Page Mill interchange and will address median and roadside ladder fuels, dead and diseased trees and vegetation that could affect interstate lanes.

Councilmembers asked about maintenance cycles and evacuation‑route considerations for the town’s pathway network. Woods said maintenance is likely to be on a 3–5 year cadence depending on weather and regrowth, and she cautioned that pathways remain only a last resort for evacuation in many parts of town. The district reported a successful recent budget modification to fund a $600,000 tree hazard assessment program and said staff will work with town committees in coming months for local outreach.

The presentation closed with an offer to maintain a public FAQ and multiple community briefings as construction and permits are finalized.