With as much rain that has fallen recently in the Bay Area, that's going to foster tree and vegetation growth. That, in turn, could lead to higher fire risk later in the year.
Cal Fire has proposed an aggressive plan to reduce fuel loads in 35 high-priority areas, including several in the Bay Area. They include the Highway 17 corridor in the Santa Cruz mountains, the Kings Mountain Road area west of Woodside, and Aptos.
The proposal goes now to Governor Gavin Newsom for review.
Cal Fire Division Chief Rich Sampson says there are three projects in the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit with a preliminary projected cost of $950,000. The goal is to have all of the 35 projects completed by the end of the year.
He characterized the work as both to reduce the risk of wild land fires and forest management.
To achieve the completion by year's end, the work would have to be fast-tracked to identify funding, to comply with permitting and possible environmental impact review, and to find private contractors to do the work in conjunction with Cal Fire crews, including seasonal firefighters and Department of Corrections crews.