A new policy on removing trees and shrubs considered high risks of igniting or spreading a fire comes before the Portola Valley Town Council for action on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Eucalyptus trees, particularly along roads and near power lines, are a special concern because they embody so many hazards, firefighting authorities say. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road.
The topic could be controversial. The Trails Committee, an advisory panel to the council, issued a memo recently recommending that the council establish a public process around taking out trees and shrubs. But town staffers say that such a process would delay response time in dealing with a hazardous situation. The fire marshal of the Woodside Fire Protection District advocates a “proactive” approach to removing eucalyptus, pine and acacia.
While the Trails Committee says it understands that a tree’s “potential fire risk” is important, other important factors include its native or non-native character and the effect its removal would have on nearby residents and town “ambiance.” The town should “gather input, discuss ways forward and reach consensus,” the committee says. “Any actions taken to implement a fire risk mitigation policy could result in significant changes in the Town’s settled environment.”
Eucalyptus are infamous for dropping branches and for falling over. Denise Enea, the fire marshal, characterizes them as major factors in intensifying and spreading a wildfire.
In July, a eucalyptus fell in Woodside along Canada Road near Godetia Drive, took down a 60,000-volt power line and immediately sparked several fires. Flames from the burning tree were 20 feet to 30 feet high, she told the Almanac. Firefighters quickly contained the fire, in part because grass had been mowed and it was not a windy day, Ms. Enea said.
In a June letter to Portola Valley staff, Philippe S. Cohen, executive director of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in Woodside, wrote about the dangers of eucalyptus trees.
Burning leaves and strips of bark easily become airborne, Mr. Cohen said. The trees need fire in that their seeds require heat of 800 degrees to open. Firefighters refer to them as “gasoline trees.” More than 70 percent of the energy released in the Oakland Hills fire of 1991 came from eucalyptus trees. They suck up available water more than native trees, a propensity that came in handy in that they were imported to drain California wetlands, Mr. Cohen said. And they do not attract native birds.
Redwood City attorney sues ‘First Amendment auditors’ after Menlo Park disputeApril 2, 2026 11:31 am
