Chipping Depot at Ormsby Fire Station
August 10, 2025

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council is hosting a one-day, drive-up brush chipping event at the Ormsby Fire Station. This event is not a roadside pickup program. Community members must bring eligible material directly to the site.

Date & Time:
Sunday, August 10, 2025
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (lunch break from 12:00 – 12:30 PM)


Location: Ormsby Fire Station, 1079 Summit Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Materials Accepted:

  • Debris less than 15 inches in diameter

Materials Not Accepted:

  • Debris over 15 inches in diameter 
  • Root balls with soil
  • Vines (ivy, poison oak, blackberry, etc.)
  • Leaves
  • Construction materials (lumber, fencing, etc.)

Important Reminders:

  • Tree service staff will guide you to the chipper.
  • Debris must be untied before backing in.
  • Remain inside your vehicle during chipping.
  • Unsafe or unapproved materials will not be chipped and will remain in your vehicle.

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Chipping Program is designed to encourage and support homeowners in creating and maintaining the required defensible space around their homes. Required defensible space clearing is 0-100 feet (Zones 0-2) from permanent structures. The program’s goal is to reduce fuel loads and wildfire risk to prevent and mitigate future wildfires. The program is FREE to WUI residents.

Chipping Program Guidelines

To make our Chipping Program successful we ask that you help to make the process as seamless as possible by following the guidelines below.

  Cut ends must face the same direction and point out towards street.

  Pile location must be within 10 feet of the residential street on public right of way on level ground.

  Limbs must be under 4 inches in diameter (thickness).

  Piles must be less than 4 feet in height.

  Piles must be less than 100 cubic yards per registered resident.

Correctly Stacked Pile

 No broom or acacia with seed pods, or other invasive plant materials.

 No piles of leaves, pine needles or yard clippings. Only woody brush/ branches.

 No blackberry vines, or poison oak/ivy.

 No timber harvest debris, vineyard or orchard waste.

 No painted, preserved, or finished lumber, trash.

 No palm fronds, roots, stumps, rocks or mud.

Incorrectly Stacked Pile

Questions? dschip@sccfiresafe.org

Chipping Program Sponsors/Funding

Thank you to our sponsors for securing funding to support our chipping program!

cal fire