September 2024
From Seth Schalet, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council CEO
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As summer ends and fall begins, the relentless heatwave continues unabated, creating more challenging conditions for our agency partners, who continue to be deployed on incidents throughout the state. This year’s fires are fed by rapid growth of grasses and other vegetation from two consecutive wet winters. While much of our area is considered “officially” no longer in a drought, we know that historically, September, October and November tend to be active fire months. While I don’t have a crystal ball I do read Predictive Services’ Northen Opps 4 Month Season Average report linked here. If you’re not familiar with it, give it a read. | | |
We have had a strong stretch over the last 60 days. After a multi month engagement, we finally closed the largest AI wildfire sensor installation on the US mainland, a 50 wildfire sensor installation through a collaboration with Stanford University, Palo Alto Fire and Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services, Woodside Fire Protection District, N5 Sensors, The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the US Fire Administration. There are may people to thank for their engagement, and at the top of the list is Cody Hill and Rich Dean of Stanford University, Ken Dueker and Nathan Rainey of Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services, Palo Alto Fire Marshal Tammi Jasso and Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Kim Giuliacci, and of course, our partners at N5 Sensors. You can see an NBC News Bay Area segment on this collaboration here. | | |
In closing, join us at our upcoming inaugural FireSafe Summit on Sunday October 6th at Coyote Ranch in San Jose. Thanks to our sponsors, partners and vendors. We look forward to seeing you there. Now, let’s hear more from our team. | | |
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Yours truly,
Seth Schalet
CEO, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
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Latino Conservation Week
September 14th - 22nd
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The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council would like to recognize the 2024 Latino Conservation Week. Latino Conservation Week is an annual event celebrating the Latinx community working in conservation nationwide. We want to recognize our large latin workforce within the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council working on conservation projects of all kinds. From outreach and education, forest health initiatives, and working with landowners to create wildfire resilience throughout our forested communities, our team is making great strides in conserving our community forests and working to greater wildfire resilience. Thank you to our wonderful team for your efforts toward environmental conservation!
Program Director, Amanda Brenner Cannon
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El Santa Clara County FireSafe Council desea reconocer la Semana de la Conservación Latina del 2024. La Semana de la Conservación Latina es un evento anual que celebra a la comunidad latinx que trabaja en la conservación nacional. Queremos reconocer a nuestra gran fuerza laboral latina dentro del Santa Clara County FireSafe Council que trabaja en proyectos de conservación de todo tipo. Desde la divulgación y la educación, las iniciativas de salud forestal y el trabajo con los propietarios para crear resiliencia a los incendios forestales en nuestras comunidades boscosas, nuestro equipo está dando grandes pasos en la conservación de nuestros bosques comunitarios y trabajando para lograr una mayor resiliencia a los incendios forestales. ¡Gracias a nuestro maravilloso equipo por sus esfuerzos hacia la conservación del medio ambiente!
Directora de Programa, Amanda Brenner Cannon
| Algunos miembros del Santa Clara County FireSafe Council el 28 de junio | | |
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California Black Oak
(Quercus kelloggii)
As a part of the Oak family, the California Black Oak is a broadleaf, hardwood tree with a rounded canopy that can grow up to 80 feet in height. When established, the California Black Oak is extremely fire tolerant. Hardwoods resprouting after wildfire or cutting develop as multi stemmed clumps that gradually self-thin over time. Learn More
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Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Forest Health Grant Update | | |
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The Forest Health Grant has been actively engaged with Santa Clara County Parks, San Jose Water, and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. In August 2024, efforts covered a total of 34.43 acres across these properties: 21.23 acres in San Jose Water's land, 3.64 acres in Santa Clara County Parks, and 9.56 acres in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
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Check out field photos showcasing our Senior Project Manager, Jim Young, and Project Manager, Irene Armstrong. You'll also get a glimpse of the project areas, flagging, and equipment that the Forest Health team has been working with. These photos were taken on Santa Clara County Parks and the equipment pictured is a track chipper.
Learn More
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Fall Chipping Program!
Registration is open for our 2nd Annual Fall Chipping Program for Saratoga and County Fire District residents.
Availability will be limited so we will be accepting registrations on a first-come-first-served basis. There will be a waitlist available if the program reaches capacity. Learn More
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Loma Chiquita Evacuation Route Project | | |
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We are continuing working through the Community Outreach and Education process. We have mailed out Right of Entry (ROE) forms to property owners along the route so that we can get permission to extend the treatments beyond the right of way and all the way to the fenceline. Doing this gives the project much greater scope and depth which, in turn, makes it a more robust project. Learn More
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Arastradero Road and Page Mill Road Evacuation Route Project | | |
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The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council and the City of Palo Alto collaborated to complete an evacuation route clearance project on Arastradero Road and Page Mill Road during the month of August. After 14 days of work, a combined 16 acres of grasses and weeds were treated from both roadsides. This annual project enhances fire resistance along the evacuation route by reducing vegetation in the corridor and supports safer travel in emergencies. Learn More
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Altamont Road Evacuation Route Maintenance Project
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Our Altamont Evacuation Route (Maintenance) Project kicked off on September 2nd. We have no incidents to report, and are anticipating a few more days to complete treatment. We thank everyone in the community for submitting an ROE, this has helped us greatly in keeping up with our maintenance projects. Learn More | | |
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Did you know that you might be able to double—or even triple—the impact of your gift?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs, which means they will match any charitable contribution made by their employees.
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SCCFSC is a local 501(c) non-profit organization that relies on funding from local partners and residents of the wildland-urban interface areas. While federal and state grants provide a significant amount of support for ongoing projects, donations from the local community is crucial to our success.The SCCFSC appreciates every donation, large or small. When you donate to Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, you are helping us and yourself by mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires.
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