Burlingame Hills Residents Rally Against Sudden Oak Death

In a fight to save oak trees orchestrated by Burlingame Hills Improvement Association President Steve Epstein, more than 650 oak trees were recently sprayed to prevent Sudden Oak Death. More than 70 homeowners participated, far surpassing the goal of 200 trees set for the first year of the Burlingame Hills Neighborhood Oak Tree Spraying Program, aimed at eradicating the deadly tree disease.

“I can see it coming up the Peninsula, basically,” Epstein told the San Francisco Examiner earlier this month. “We just have to have this out before it becomes an epidemic.”

Epstein was inspired to begin such a program due to the death of a large oak on his property, which was a major selling point of the home. The neighborhood association compiled a 12-point terms of service for arborists, and residents picked from those arborists that agreed or enlisted their own.

“Sudden Oak Death has already killed many oaks in Burlingame Hills, and it is getting worse every year,” said Mayne Tree Expert President Richard Huntington in a statement. “Already, of oaks sampled in Saratoga and Los Gatos, 97 percent are infected.”

Under the program, Burlingame residents can get trees sprayed for about $20 to $30 per tree, halting a disease that can lead to costly tree removal or repairs to property if a dead tree falls.

Homeowners such as Jerry Edelstein, who spoke about the program at a recent association meeting, said protecting the trees now ultimately preserves the habitat, privacy and character of the 426-home neighborhood.

Epstein said they plan on continuing the program next year.