High Fire Risk

the FIRE DISTRICT’s Position on Stanford’s APPLICATION

The Woodside Fire Protection District wrote Stanford and the Town in September 2019 detailing the extreme fire dangers of the site proposed by Stanford for its high density housing project. “[E]ven with regular fuel reduction attempts, the physical vegetative nature and steep topographical properties of the large remaining undeveloped portion of the parcel place a significant increased risk of rapid acceleration and increased intensity of any ignition in the natural landscape. These high fire risk characteristics pose a risk to any existing structures on the west, north and east ridges, i.e., Minoca, Pine Ridge Way and Westridge as well as any new structures along the flat 6-acre area proposed for development.”

As Fire Marshall Don Bullard told the Almanac in February 2020:

“The fire (district) doesn’t think that this is the best location to be putting high density housing because of the high fire severity zone. It is a very dangerous place for fire. We should look for other areas for development that would be better, and we’ve suggested that the town do that.”

The Fire District is seeking a minimum separation of 100 feet between each housing structure in the proposed project. Stanford is proposing a minimum of 8 feet between structures, which results in a density of structures that far exceeds the density of structures the District recommends and our zoning ordinance allows.

Read the Fire District’s warnings and recommendations below: