$1.75 million award targets wildfire hazards along hillside evacuation routes

Saratoga has secured $1.75 million in state funding for vegetation removal and other wildfire-prevention work along evacuation routes in its hillside neighborhoods, the city announced Oct. 1.

The funding, sponsored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, will support work in the city’s Wildland Urban Interface. Those roads serve both residents leaving during an emergency and responders trying to reach hillside areas.

Potential projects include thinning hazardous vegetation, clearing brush, pruning or removing trees where needed and maintaining defensible space beside evacuation corridors. The city says it will choose locations based on wildfire risk, evacuation needs, road conditions and opportunities to reduce hazardous vegetation.

The announcement does not identify specific streets or a date when crews will begin. It also says the Assembly Budget Committee will determine the process and timing for distributing the money. The city expects to receive the funding by the end of 2026.

Residents can take a separate preparedness step now: identify their evacuation zone through Genasys Protect, linked from Saratoga’s emergency-preparedness page. That page also provides the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and links to AlertSCC emergency notifications.

The city’s resources encourage households to include pets in evacuation planning, keep animal identification current and prepare a pet go-kit while the city works toward the funded roadside projects.

Sources

City of Saratoga funding announcement, Oct. 1: https://www.saratoga.ca.us/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/302259

City emergency-preparedness resources: https://www.saratoga.ca.us/224/Emergency-Preparedness