Wildfire Survivors Protest California Housing Plan on Evacuation Routes

Wildfire survivors in Agoura Hills, California, gathered to protest a state plan for high-density housing along Kanan Road, a narrow canyon corridor they say serves as a critical evacuation route. More than 50 residents demonstrated on Saturday, highlighting risks from adding over 1,600 apartments to an area prone to fires.

Protesters, including local advocacy groups, warned that the development could trap thousands in gridlock during future emergencies. The corridor was a choke point during the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and killed three people while burning nearly 97,000 acres.

Locals reported it taking 80 minutes to travel a single mile amid evacuation traffic, with about 2,000 cars forming a five-mile line. The same road is one of only two escape routes from the Santa Monica Mountains and is designated in regional evacuation plans.

Rae Greulich, a 74-year-old member of the group Protectors and Residents in the Santa Monica Mountains, described the past chaos and current fears. “People sat in gridlock during the evacuation,” she said. ” >"This is our lifeline. We came together in 2018 out of concern for maintaining the viability of our evacuation route.

" — Rae Greulich, resident (New York Post) Jacinta Chancellor, 57, recounted her evacuation ordeal, noting that roads were packed and alternative paths were also blocked by flames. She emphasized that the plan adds thousands more cars to an already congested intersection.

“We understand California needs affordable housing. We are not anti-housing,” she stated, but stressed the need for safer placement. Kevin Cross, 58, shared his experience of driving through fire in bumper-to-bumper traffic, where even fire trucks struggled to pass.

He pointed out that the 1,600 units would increase outbound traffic, potentially blocking emergency responders. Residents also criticized a lack of community outreach in the planning process.

The housing initiative fast-tracks developments, including affordable and homeless units, by prioritizing public land and waiving full environmental reviews for projects under 20 acres in some cases. This includes bypassing detailed traffic impact studies.

More than 200 units are already under construction near the protest site, with another 230 planned for the same stretch. In 2021, the city selected 20 housing sites, with about 75 percent south of the 101 freeway, many feeding into Kanan Road. The road handles 25,000 commuters daily and is part of evacuation routes for multiple areas, including alongside Pacific Coast Highway.

Protesters gathered with signs reading “Don’t close us in” and “Your plan is fatal,” urging a reconsideration of site locations to avoid increasing dangers. The plan aims to address statewide housing shortages but has sparked local opposition over safety.

Inquiries were made to the office overseeing unincorporated county areas, as well as city officials, for responses on the concerns raised.