Emergency Tree Removal in Los Gatos
Fallen and failing trees cleared day or night across Los Gatos, with no after-hours surcharge.
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If a tree is down on your house, car, driveway or road, call (650) 454-0373. We answer 24 hours a day, and there is no after-hours surcharge: a removal at 2 a.m. is priced the same as one at 2 p.m. If anything is touching a power line, call PG&E first and keep everyone away from it.
The Town still wants a call
Los Gatos lets you remove or severely prune a tree without a permit when it puts life, property, utilities or essential roads in imminent danger. You still have to notify the Town and get its approval before the work starts. Monday to Friday, 8 to 4, call Parks and Public Works at (408) 399-5771. After hours, call Los Gatos Police at (408) 354-8600. Photos and a description of what happened are due within 72 hours, so take pictures before the first cut.
A tree that was dead, or that the Town Arborist rates High or Extreme risk, needs no replacement tree afterward.
Highway 17 storms
From April 3 to 14, 2023, Caltrans ran lane closures on Highway 17 from the Blossom Hill Road overcrossing to Summit Road to remove fallen and leaning trees after that winter's storms. Hillside lots along that corridor take the same weather.
What happens on an emergency call
- We take the weight off the roof, car or fence first
- We clear the driveway or road so you can get in and out
- We cut and remove the failed tree or limb
- We check what is still standing, including the rest of the tree, for the next failure
- We grind the stump and clean up once the danger is past
Removals start at $1,000 per tree, day or night. Firefighter Tree Service is owned by firefighter Dennis Santora, and our ISA-certified arborists and insured crews work Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell and the Highway 17 hills.
Why a firefighter-owned crew for emergencies
Owner Dennis Santora is a firefighter, and emergency calls get the same order of work a fire crew uses: make the scene safe, open access, then deal with the tree. We answer 24/7 and never add an after-hours surcharge.
- 24/7 emergency response across Los Gatos and the Highway 17 hills
- No after-hours surcharge; removals from $1,000 per tree
- ISA-certified arborists check what is still standing
- Insured for work on and around damaged homes
- Town emergency line (408) 399-5771, or Los Gatos Police at (408) 354-8600 after hours
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
Not a regular permit, if the tree puts life, property, utilities or essential roads in imminent danger. You do need to notify the Town and get approval before the work: Parks and Public Works at (408) 399-5771, Monday to Friday 8 to 4, or Los Gatos Police at (408) 354-8600 after hours. Then send photos and a description within 72 hours.
No. Emergency removals carry no after-hours surcharge. Removals start at $1,000 per tree whether we come out at noon on a Tuesday or 3 a.m. on a Sunday.
Stay away from the tree and the line, keep others away, and call PG&E. Lines and the trees on them are the utility's work. Once PG&E has made the line safe, we can deal with the tree.
Street trees in Los Gatos belong to the Town's Parks and Public Works department. Call (408) 399-5770 or email ppw@losgatosca.gov. If the tree came from your own yard, or is on your property, call us at (650) 454-0373.
Yes: Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell and the Highway 17 hills. Rules differ by jurisdiction. In unincorporated Santa Clara County, storm-damaged and hazard trees are exempt from the tree permit (heritage trees excepted), but the owner has to be able to prove the condition, so photograph everything. Saratoga still wants a permit even for a dead or fallen protected tree, though a dead-tree permit is free with documentation.
The ones that were already in trouble. Watch for a lean that has changed, a crack or split at the trunk or a main fork, mushrooms clustered at the base, or a tree already stressed by drought or bark beetles. Any of those within reach of the house, the driveway or a road is worth a free look before the next storm.
Our Process
How It Works
Three straightforward steps from first call to finished project.
Free Consultation
A certified arborist visits your property, assesses the trees, and discusses your goals. We identify any risks, health issues, or city permit requirements.
Detailed Estimate
You receive a clear, itemized quote with no hidden fees. We explain the scope of work, timeline, and handle any permit paperwork for you.
Expert Service & Cleanup
Our crew arrives on time, completes the work safely, and leaves your property spotless. We haul everything away. You won't know we were there.
Coverage
Service Areas
Los Gatos, the West Valley and the Highway 17 hills. On the Peninsula? Our Redwood City crew covers it.
Los Gatos
Monte Sereno
Saratoga
Campbell
Cupertino
Willow Glen
Cambrian Park
Almaden Valley
Santa Cruz Mountains
Get Started Today
Ready to Get Started?
Whether it's an emergency removal or routine tree care, Firefighter Tree Service is ready. Call us now or request a free consultation from our certified arborists.
Firefighter-owned · ISA Certified Arborists · Insured