Creating a perimeter around your home free of flammable grass, tress and other vegetation is an important component of wildfire resiliency. Here are some resources that can assist you.

1. Defensible Space Summary from Ready for Wildfire
2.  Remove the Flammable Five - The Town Council recently adopted a recommendation from the Wildfire Preparedness Committee to ban new plantings of the “flammable five” trees (i.e., Juniper, Cypress, Acacia, Pine, and Eucalyptus). All the Flammable Five trees have a few things in common:  are non-native species, contain resin, and are highly flammable.  Tree resin is a natural, sticky substance that trees use to seal any wounds and is highly flammable.  Eucalyptus leaves in a wildfire can spread embers over a mile away.  Pine trees in particular are unfortunately abundant in town. We can all play a role in increasing our resiliency in wildfire emergencies by making landscape decisions that reduce the risk of spreading wildfires. You may want to consider proactive removal of these trees

3. Public Right of Way/Roads – As stated above, the Town is executing an extensive multiyear vegetation management program along the Town’s primary evacuation routes and emergency access points.

4. Regional Partner Engagement – Stanford University has been implementing a vegetation management program on its properties in Portola Valley since late 2019, and it addresses mitigation measure for Jasper Ridge.  Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) has identified vegetation work for both the Windy Hill and Hawthorn complexes.  WFPD and the Town will implement further projects as funding becomes available.  Last year, PG&E completed vegetation management work in the Woodside Highlands and along Portola Road.  PG&E also continues this maintenance work on an annual basis, and such efforts will expand in FY 2021-22 to remove problem trees in the utility easement.
   • Wunderlich Park Fire Reduction Project - In July 2021, San Mateo County Parks began to treat 184 acres of overdense forest in Wunderlich Park in order to improve forest health and reduce fire danger to the community.  The Project Runs from July 2021 until July 2022. 
5. Chipper Days – The Town and the WFPD are working to increase the number of available Chipper program days for residential fuel mitigation.
6. Clean-Up Days - Town residents have the opportunity two to three times a year to dispose of yard waste at the Town’s Neighborhood Clean-Up Days, as well as requesting on-call clean ups from GreenWaste.