We manage programs and projects that actively benefit the community, such as Evacuation Routes, Road Hardening, Fuel Breaks, and more.
Current Projects
Fire Station 8 Staffing to Protect the Hills
Staffing Fire Station 8 in Palo Alto protects the areas around Foothills Park and the surrounding communities. It is an important step in providing critical fire resources and a regional response for public safety during the high fire season. For the past two years, we have partners with Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District (County Fire), and the City of Palo Alto to fund and staff the fire station throughout the high fire season (end of October, with the option to extend, if needed).
Fire Station 8 will be staffed with a three-person engine company for at least 12-hours per day, 7-days per week, with the option to add more hours depending on fire weather conditions. Station 8 responses to areas next to the Page Mill Road Corridor, from Skyline Boulevard to I-280 and will be available for mutual aid. We provide the funding for the 3-person crew while on duty at Station 8.
Upcoming Projects
Arastradero Road Evacuation Route Project
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Arastradero Road represents a significant thoroughfare for the Los Altos Hills Community and exists as an egress option in case of fire. The project route will begin at the intersection Arastradero Road, Page Mill Road, and the I-280 park-and-ride, heading southeast towards Fremont Road. The route is approximately 2-miles long, with treatment on both sides of the road, resulting in 4-miles of treatment. The goals are to reduce roadside fuels to improve the safety of this evacuation route, improve visibility and travel safety, and to reduce the risk of roadside fire ignition.
If you live along the Arastradero Road Project route, be on the lookout for a packet in your mailbox with information about the project and how to participate.
Project resource links:
I-280 Project
This project proposes to reduce hazardous fuels along a 5.9-mile corridor of CA-Interstate 280 (I-280) in Santa Clara County to mitigate the risk to life, property, and infrastructure in the surrounding communities in the event of a wildfire.
Project resource links:
How to Participate
If a Community project, such as an Evacuation Route project is coming to your area, you will receive a packet in the mail with details about the project and how you can participate. We encourage residents to participate in these types of projects, as increased participation allows us to clear hazardous vegetation further from the edge of the roadway. This increases the effectiveness of the projects, providing easier access for emergency vehicles responding to a fire and for residents evacuating an area, in addition to improving visibility and roadway safety.
Past Projects
Altamont Road Evacuation Route and Road Hardening Project – completed May 2022
Altamont Road connects to previous Evacuation Route Projects along Page Mill Road and Moody/El Monte Roads. It provides residents and travelers with two ways out along the adjourning key roads that are evacuation-route-prepared because of the removal of hazardous vegetation along the roadways. This 2.2-mile project is the primary egress option for residents along Altamont Road while serving as an alternate evacuation route for Page Mill and Moody/El Monte Roads communities.
Project resource links:
Moody/El Monte Roads Evacuation Route and Road Hardening Project – completed November 2021
Moody and El Monte Roads represent a significant thoroughfare for the Los Altos Hills Community and serve as a continuous path from Page Mill Road to Highway 280. To secure the integrity of these roads for ingress and egress in an emergency, we worked with Santa Clara County FireSafe Council to treat roadside fire fuels. Treatment included trimming woody vegetation, pruning trees, clearing dead materials, and clearing hazard trees that may fall onto roads and block the routes. This 3.5-mile project improved visibility and travel safety while reducing the risk of roadside fire ignition.
Project resource links:
- SCC FireSafe Council Moody/El Monte Roads Evacuation Route Project Page
- Moody/El Monte Roads Evacuation Route Project FAQs
- Los Altos Town Crier Article – Work Planned to Shore Up Los Altos Hills Fire Evacuation Route – July 21, 2021
Page Mill Road Escape Route and Shaded Fuel Break Project – Phase I and Phase II – completed Spring and Fall 2020
The Page Mill Road Escape Route and Shaded Fuel Break Project was the first of its kind for the Fire District. The two-phased route stretches approximately 2.2-miles along Page Mill Road, from the intersection of Page Mill Road and Country Way to the edge of 11100 Page Mill Road. The majority of the work for this project included roadside mowing, brush clearing, and pruning of trees.
Project resource links:
