Dear Soquel–San Jose Road Property Owner:
The FireSafe Santa Cruz County (FSSCC) is preparing a roadside hazardous-fuel-reduction project along the Soquel–San Jose Road corridor. This road is both a critical evacuation route for mountain residents and an essential access route for firefighters and other emergency responders.
The project will improve safety during a wildfire by reducing vegetation that could produce dangerous heat and flames near the road or fall and block traffic. The work will also reduce the risk of roadside fires spreading into nearby wildlands and support the region’s growing network of shaded fuel breaks.
Two grants fully fund the approved project work, so there is no cost to property owners.
A Registered Professional Forester is overseeing the project’s environmental planning, review, and compliance.
Proposed work
Depending on site conditions, trained crews may:
- Mow grass and thin dense roadside brush.
- Prune low branches and other ladder fuels that can carry fire into tree canopies.
- Chip dead, downed, cut, or pruned vegetation.
- Improve overhead clearance for emergency vehicles.
- Evaluate dead, diseased, structurally unsound, or severely leaning trees that could fall across the road.
- Retain healthy overstory trees whenever feasible to preserve shade and cooler conditions along the corridor.
Treatment will generally extend 15 to 100 feet from the road edge, depending on terrain, vegetation, safety considerations, environmental restrictions, and each property owner’s permission. This is selective fuel reduction—not land clearing. Hand crews will complete most work, with specialized equipment used where steep slopes or other conditions make hand work unsafe.
Before treatment begins, the project team will complete the required environmental review and field layout. Sensitive habitat, riparian areas, and vegetation requiring protection will be clearly marked and avoided. Contractors must follow applicable fire-prevention requirements, keep required fire-suppression equipment onsite, and suspend work during Red Flag conditions or other unsafe fire-weather advisories.
What we need from property owners
Because portions of the proposed treatment area extend onto private property, your participation is essential. We ask each affected property owner to:
- Confirm your contact and property information. Provide the best phone number and email address for project updates and scheduling.
- Review and sign the right-of-entry Permit. FSSCC cannot perform work on private property without the owner’s written authorization.
- Provide reasonable access for planning and approved work. Access may be needed for the project manager, Registered Professional Forester, environmental specialists, contractors, and treatment crews.
- Share access instructions and property-specific concerns. Please identify locked gates, pets or livestock, tenant coordination needs, parking limitations, utilities, septic systems, irrigation, private roads, known hazards, sensitive areas, or vegetation that may require special attention.
- Review the proposed treatment area. We will make reasonable efforts to answer questions and clarify the planned work before crews begin.
- Keep us informed of changes. Let the project team know of any changes in ownership, contact information, access, or site conditions.
Signing a permission agreement does not authorize unrestricted clearing. Work will be limited to the approved project area and treatment specifications and will remain subject to environmental protections, safety requirements, permits, and grant requirements.
FSSCC expects field work to begin in early October 2026. Work on individual properties will be scheduled as permissions, environmental review, contractor availability, and site conditions allow. Property owners will receive additional information before crews enter their property.
Your cooperation will help create a safer evacuation corridor, improve access for emergency responders, and strengthen wildfire resilience throughout the community. Thank you for partnering with FSSCC and your neighbors on this important effort.
For questions, concerns, or property-specific information, please contact:
Mark Anderson
Project Manager
FireSafe Santa Cruz County
408-807-6443
Jim Young
Senior Project Manager
FireSafe Santa Cruz County
408-656-9130
Sincerely,
FireSafe Santa Cruz County
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