Cal Fire Thinning Project Progresses On SR-17

LOS GATOS, CA — With an eye on the fact that many of the state's worst fires have recently ignited later in the year, Cal Fire is blazing through its forest thinning that started along State Route 17 this week.

The "fuel break" project that will continue until the end of the year involves taking out low-hanging branches, ladder fuels under mature trees and small trees that have overpopulated the heavily-wooded region along the major highway that connects Santa Cruz with the South Bay. This week, Cal Fire worked through the Redwood Estates area.

Next week, the state fire agency will hit the same area around the Pavilion and in adjacent zones along Madrone Drive and Santa Clara Road that wraps around the Santa Cruz Mountains. For the following week, the crews will move on to the area around Lexington Reservoir between Los Gatos and Cal Fire's Alma Station.

There is no work planned on the Labor Day holiday in light of increased motorist traffic anticipated.

The project has been funded through the California Climate Initiative, Cal Fire and the California Department of Transportation.