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Assemblymember, council press Caltrans on eucalyptus trees they call a fire hazard on SR‑9
Summary
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and council members said tall eucalyptus trees along State Route 9 create an evacuation and fire risk; Pellerin said she has been pressing Caltrans and expects removal or further maintenance.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin told the Monte Sereno council that residents and local officials have repeatedly raised safety concerns about tall eucalyptus trees along State Route 9 and that her office has been pressing Caltrans for action.
Pellerin said Caltrans has performed some crown reduction and limb lifting but that further work is necessary: “Those trees need to come down. They are a fire hazard and it's not safe for this community,” she said. She said her office will continue to push Caltrans and hoped future reports would show the trees removed and replaced with less-flammable species.
Council members thanked Pellerin for ongoing attention and noted the trees' role in evacuation planning and wildfire mitigation. The assemblymember said she and staff are monitoring responses and will report back next year.
Why it matters: The trees were characterized as a public-safety and evacuation concern affecting residents along a state highway; Caltrans is the responsible agency, so continued coordination will determine any removal or mitigation timeline.
