Wildfire Resilience in the Midcoast

2018 Sierra Foothills - Wildfire destroys the town of Paradise.

The Sierra Foothills Camp Fire in the summer of 2018 brought a sharp focus on the increasing wildfire hazard in the west, and the 2020 CZU Lightning Fire in southern San Mateo County brought home this awareness of local vulnerability.

fuel reduction projects

  • 2024 Quarry Park: Fuel reduction followup and invasive species control. Use of air curtain burners to dispose of logs & debris.

  • 2023: Pillar Point Bluff fuel reduction project (#22 of County Parks 5-year plan) Phase 1 occurred intermittently from summer 2023 into January 2024.  CalFire crews thinned dead and dying Monterey pines within 100 ft east of Jean Lauer Trail. Logs were left where they fell and branches were chipped and sprayed over the work area. 

  • 2021-2023: Quarry Park 3-year fuel reduction project with $1M Coastal Conservancy funding to RCD for County Parks’ projects #2 and #16. 2021:  9.5 acres of shaded fuel break.  2022:  25 acres of shaded fuel break and 70 acres of hazard tree removal. 2023: Maintenance of previously completed fuel reduction areas beginning in March focused on invasive species control. In fall, work shifted to the removal of downed logs and hazard trees within Mirada East in Quarry Park, an area heavily impacted by the high wind events in March, with between 60 and 70 trees downed from wind throw.  See County Parks page

  • 2021: El Granada medians eucalyptus removal - DPW page

  • 2019: “Governor’s project” Quarry Park fuel reduction prioritized by CalFire and state funded: description, staff report, Parks page

  • 2018: Magellan 100’W shaded fuel break, east Miramar

  • 2016: El Granada Blvd/ Quarry Park fuel break maintenance - scope of work, map

Studies & Planning

  • 2021-2026 Forest Health & Community Safety Initiative for San Mateo County Parks is a five-year plan to mitigate wildfire danger in 32 county parks over 5 years at an estimated cost of $18,750,000. Presentation at MCC 4/14/21. Three projects at Quarry Park (#2, #8, #16) and one at Pillar Point Bluff (#22) are included.

  • 2020 CalFire video presentation on Fire Danger on the San Mateo County Coastside, with special focus on dense eucalyptus forest in Quarry Park & El Granada.

Left: Quarry Park before Phase 1 treatment, with dense debris & undergrowth.
Right: after Phase 1 treatment, with a cleared & chipped understory.

Wildfire Resources & Documents