Elena-Fremont evacuation routes in Los Altos Hills, California provide a significant route of egress/ingress for the northern portion of the Los Altos Hills community in the event of a wildfire. To secure the integrity of these egress/ingress routes, Los Altos Hills County Fire District and Santa Clara County FireSafe Council propose a roadside treatment of hazardous fuels. Initial treatment was completed in March 2024. The project is now in the 2-year maintenance cycle.

 

Project Dates:

  • Start Date: Monday, May 4, 2026.
  • Cover letters and permission forms were mailed to residents along the route on Friday, March 20th.
  • Door knocking is scheduled for Sunday, April 12th. Staff will be going door to door along the route to talk with residents and answer questions.

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Project site:

This project will treat seven (7) roads along the evacuation route. These include Elena Road, La Barranca Road, Purissima Road, Concepcion Road, W. Fremont Road, Westwind Way, and La Paloma Road.

The West end of the project is located at the intersection of Elena and Natoma Road (37.3756413, -122.1521703) and the East end of the project is located at the intersection of W Fremont Road and W Edith Avenue (37.3804304, -122.1245742).

This project will treat the following roads:

  • Elena Road from Natoma Road to La Barranca Road. Approximately 0.6 linear miles, 1.2 treated miles.
  • La Barranca Road from Elena to Purissima Road. Approximately 0.4 linear miles, 0.8 treated miles.
  • Purissima Road from La Barranca to Robleda Road. Approximately 0.5 linear miles, 1 treated mile.
  • Concepcion Road from Purissima to W. Fremont Road. Approximately 0.9 linear miles, 1.8 treated miles.
  • W. Fremont Road from Concepcion Road to W. Edith Avenue. Approximately 0.8 linear miles, 1.6 treated miles.
  • Westwind Way from Concepcion Road to La Paloma Road. Approximately 0.2 linear miles, 0.4 treated miles.
  • La Paloma Road from Purissima Road to W Fremont Road. Approximately 1 linear mile, 2 treated miles.
  • Manuella Road: from Fremont Road (37°22’57.0″N 122°07’59.7″W) to the district boundary (37°23’28.8″N 122°07’55.6″W.) For the section of Manuella Road from 14710 Manuella Road to 25901 Springhill Road, only the east side of the roadway is within the fire district. Approximately 1.48 miles of treated curbline.
  • Estacada Drive: from Manuella Road (37°23’22.6″N 122°07’52.5″W) to Miranda Road (37°23’23.0″N 122°07’42.3″W.) Approximately 0.36 miles of treated curbline.
  • Miranda Road: from Estacada Drive (37°23’23.0″N 122°07’42.3″W) to Fremont Road (37°22’55.7″N 122°07’43.5″W) Approximately 1.06 miles of treated curbline.

Total treatment: The total treatment of the project is approximately 6.3 miles in length which equates to 9.72 miles of treatment when accounting for both sides of the route.

Goals for this project:

The immediate goal of this project is to make the roadway a safer evacuation route in an emergency or wildfire. The broader goals are to enhance fire resiliency by reducing ladder fuels and invasive plant species, and to improve roadside hardening along evacuation routes, which are significant benefits to the community and make District residents safer. This project enhances regional efforts to improve Santa Clara County’s evacuation route and shaded fuel break system. It also provides opportunities to protect or manage watersheds from future wildfires. Additionally, by reducing competition for light and water in the understory plants, shrubs, and young trees, and by treating hazardous trees when feasible, this creates a healthier forest and woodland for the benefit of the environment.

 

Submission Instructions – Ways to confirm your participation:

Participation is voluntary; please follow the steps below to join this project.

  1. Fill out, sign, and submit the enclosed Right of Entry Permit (ROE) by April 17th
    • Complete, sign, and mail the paper copy of the ROE, using the self-addressed, stamped envelope, also enclosed to:
      Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
      Attn: Elena – Fremont       Evacuation Route
      14380 Saratoga Avenue
      Saratoga, CA 95070-5953

OR

OR

    • Download an electronic copy of the ROE, sign via certified electronic signature, which includes time and date stamp, and return via email to Barbara Gonzalez at: bgonzalez@sccfiresafe.org
  2. If you request, a representative will be available to meet with you at a mutually convenient time to identify and explain the removal of the brush, grasses, tree limbs, and vegetation hazards on your property.
  3. To learn more visit the LAHCFD project page