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August 2026
From Seth Schalet, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council CEO
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July and August have been some of the worst months on record for wildfires across Europe. As Americans travel in record numbers despite continued global economic uncertainty, Europe’s summer of wildfires offers a sobering preview of what many forecasters describe as the “new normal” under climate change. A recent study projects that wildfires could burn 39% more of Europe by the end of the century, even under the best-case climate scenario, underscoring the urgent need to better manage wildfire risk. What has survived for centuries may not be there for future generations.
| Closer to home, we were pleased to welcome 15 companies on July 29 for our CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant East Branch bidder’s tour of approximately 300 acres in the beautiful Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A big thank-you to our project team—Stephen Harrington, Rosie Eisner, Mike Mathiesen, Dave Manson, and ARC Consulting’s David Van Lennep—for their tremendous work keeping this important project moving forward and on track with our grant deliverables. We could not do it without you. | | | |
I also want to extend a great big thank-you to Dr. Hussam Mahmoud for his July 21st presentation on the 2025 International Workshop on Wildfire Modeling & AI. This was Hussam’s second guest appearance with us, following his October 2022 presentation with Akshat Chulahwat on predicting building survival in wildfires.
| Over the years, I've had the privilege of engaging with Hussam and following his work at the intersection of structural engineering, wildfire, and disaster resilience. His research using Graph Theory to understand and predict the network effects of wildfire in the built environment continues to demonstrate an important principle: if you can predict risk, you can mitigate its impact. | |
Another important development this month was the California Board of Forestry’s approval of “Zone Zero” fire-safe landscaping standards, which could take effect as early as September and have significant implications for homeowners across California. Existing homeowners in state responsibility and very high hazard zones will have up to five years to comply, while new construction will need to meet the standards immediately. Questions remain regarding how these changes may interact with home insurance, but the move represents an important step toward addressing wildfire risk around structures. Read The Mercury News Article here.
| A special thank-you to Tony Andersen, Chief Daniel Berlant, and the many others who engaged deeply in the Zone Zero process. It has been a long and difficult road, but taking the time to thoughtfully work through these issues is an important part of the democratic process—and I believe this is progress. | |
With that, I'll say thanks for reading and turn it over to the team. As always, I encourage you to explore the research articles, presentations, podcasts, and stories we've included throughout this month's newsletter.
Onward and upward, as they say—and now, let's hear from the team.
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Yours truly,
Seth Schalet
CEO, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
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South Bay
Prescribed Burn Association
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Upcoming Courses and Trainings:
- S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws - October 2026
- (4-day course over two weekends)
- Classroom Sessions: October 10–11, 2026
- Field Sessions: October 17–18, 2026
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- Pile Burning Workshop & Air Quality/Burn Permitting
- November 7, 2026
- Registration Coming Soon!
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Wildfire County Coordinator
Program
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Two Counties. One Firewise Goal!
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council is teaming up with the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County for a joint Firewise USA® Application Renewal Zoom Presentation!
📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 6:00–7:00 PM
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Current Firewise communities will learn about the annual renewal process, the new site boundary tool, important renewal requirements, and have an opportunity to get their renewal questions answered while connecting with Firewise USA® leaders from both counties.
Please Note: This presentation is only for existing Firewise communities that need to renew their recognition. We will not be covering an introduction to Firewise USA® or answering questions about starting a new Firewise USA® community during this presentation.
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Approved in 2025 or earlier? We would love for you to join us!
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Approved in 2026? You do not need to attend.
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Still working on your first Firewise application? You can skip this presentation and join one of our other Firewise learning opportunities instead.
These outreach and educational efforts are part of our continued work through the Wildfire County Coordinator Program to provide communities with the tools, information, and support they need to become better prepared for wildfire.
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Community Ambassador Program —
Educational Series
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📅 Friday, September 4, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Firewise Office Hours with Andrea Constantine
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Have questions about Firewise USA? Join our monthly Firewise Office Hours to get answers, learn about the recognition process, and discuss ways to reduce wildfire risk in your neighborhood.
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Fall Community
Chipping Program
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Fall Chipping Program
Opening Sept 8th!
Our Fall Community Chipping Program is approaching!
Registration for Saratoga and County Fire residents opens on Tuesday, September 8th. This program is free to WUI residents.
Availability will be limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. A waitlist will be made available when registration reaches capacity. Please be sure to review our chipping page for current guidelines. Learn More
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Los Gatos Creek Watershed
Collaborative Forest Health Grant
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Guadalupe Division:
Vegetation treatment work within the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in Los Gatos, including along Kennedy Trail and at Cherry Springs, has been completed. Denali Tree Service, the contractor for this project, has now almost completed operations within the Guadalupe Division of the East Branch. Read More
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Arastradero Evacuation Route
Maintenance Project 2026
| | | The Arastradero Evacuation Route Maintenance Project is currently in the biological flagging phase, and is set to begin on Tuesday September 8th -18th, 2026. This will be the fifth project of the series for the calendar year and will treat approximately 5.6 miles of roadside vegetation. We are currently accepting Right Of Entry (ROE) forms for this project. The Cover Letter and ROEs were mailed on Friday July 31, 2026, and will be accepted until Friday August 21, 2026. Learn More | | | |
Magdalena-Eastbrook
Evacuation Route Project
| | | The Magdalena-Eastbrook Evacuation Route Project is currently in the project planning phase. The project is set to start on Monday, October 12th -23rd, and will be the sixth one of the series for the calendar year. We will be accepting Right of Entries (ROE) for this project during the window: Monday August 28 - Friday September 25, 2026. Learn More | Before and After picture below of overgrown areas of vegetation that were thinned out. | | | |
Chemeketa Park Roadside
Vegetation Clearance Project
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The Chemeketa Park roadside clearance project is kicking into full planning mode. We're still in the outreach phase, sending out notifications and collecting Right of Entry (ROE) forms from residents. If you haven't submitted yours yet, please get it in soon so your property can be included.
This project will reduce vegetation along private roads throughout Chemeketa Park, in southern Los Gatos, to improve fire resiliency and make the community's evacuation route safer during a wildfire. Work is scheduled to begin Monday, August 31, 2026. Please be on the lookout for possible road closures or delays in the area once work gets underway. Learn More
| | | Mineral Springs Way Roadside Vegetation Clearance Project | | | |
Roadside clearance on the Mineral Springs Way was completed Monday, August 10, 2026. Crews cleared hazardous vegetation, ladder fuels, and dead/diseased material along the route in the Call of the Wild community, an area that borders San Jose Water's Los Gatos Creek Watershed.
Thanks to the property owners along the route for granting access to make this work possible.
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Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)
The mountain hemlock is an evergreen tree typically found in cold and snowy subalpine environments, with its range extending from Sequoia National Park in central California to Cook Inlet in south-central Alaska.
Mountain hemlocks are considered to be highly susceptible to fire for a variety of reasons. They often retain branches close to the ground and grow in clusters (Crater Lake Institute 2020). Learn More
| | | The FireSafe Council was excited to join the City of Saratoga’s Summer Movie Night on July 10th for an evening of community, family fun, and Zootopia 2 under the stars. Our team hosted a resource table, giving us the opportunity to connect with local residents, answer questions, and share information about wildfire preparedness and the resources available to help keep our communities safe and resilient. Learn More | | | Board Meeting Guest Presenter Lineup | | | |
Did you know that you might be able to double—or even triple—the impact of your gift?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs, which means they will match any charitable contribution made by their employees.
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SCCFSC is a local 501(c) non-profit organization that relies on funding from local partners and residents of the wildland-urban interface areas. While federal and state grants provide a significant amount of support for ongoing projects, donations from the local community is crucial to our success.The SCCFSC appreciates every donation, large or small. When you donate to Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, you are helping us and yourself by mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires.
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