Magdalena and Summerhill Avenues in Los Altos Hills, California, provide a significant route for evacuation for the southern portion of Los Altos Hills Community and for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District users in the event of a fire. The Magdalena Ave. portion of the project will provide a continuation of the evacuation route along Ravensbury Ave., which leads away from Rancho San Antonio Park, while the Summerhill Ave. portion of this project will help ensure an alternate route to Interstate 280 in the event the interstate access directly on Magdalena Ave. is inaccessible. 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.

Project Dates:

  • Start Date: October 23rd
  • Completed: October 25th

 

Project Community Meeting

Please join our virtual meeting where you can learn about the project and have your questions answered.

Project site:

The Magdalena Avenue portion of this evacuation route project will begin at the intersection of Magdalena Avenue and Ravensbury Avenue and end at the intersection of Magdalena Avenue and Summerhill Avenue.

The Summerhill Avenue portion of the evacuation route will begin at the intersection of Magdalena Avenue and Summerhill Avenue and continue along Summerhill Avenue ending at the intersection of Summerhill Avenue and El Monte Avenue.

Goals for this project:

The immediate goal is to remove the roadside hazardous vegetation that could fall and block the roadway in the event of a wildfire or would make the roadway extremely hot and unsafe to travel. The broader goal is to enhance fire resiliency by reducing ladder fuels, creating shaded fuel breaks, reducing invasive plant species, and to improve evacuation routes, all of which makes Los Altos Hills residents safer. This project will also increase Santa Clara County’s developing shaded fuel break system and provide opportunities to protect or manage watersheds from future wildfires. Additionally, reducing competition for light and water in the understory plants, shrubs and young trees and treating hazardous trees where feasible will create a healthier and more vigorous forest and woodland.

Magdalena-Summerhill Wildfire Safety & Evacuation Route Project Cover Letter

Right of Entry Permit (ROE) due back date: October 5, 2023

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 October 5, 2023.
    • 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: Magdalena-Summerhill 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 Irene Armstrong at iarmstrong@sccfiresafe.org
  2. If you request, a representative can meet with you, at your request, to discuss the specific work to be conducted on your property.
  3. To learn more, attend a virtual Project Community Meeting and visit: www.lahcfd.org