With conditions ripe for an early start of fire season, Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department this week put into effect a temporarily ban on all residential outdoor burning in the county.
With the exception of agricultural burning in Palo Verde Valley and Coachella Valley, area residents are asked not to burn landscape debris such as branches and leaves in order to lessen the threat of California wildfires.
"With the conditions set for an early start of the 2022 fire season, it is imperative that we collectively take preventative steps right now to prepare, and we ask all Californians to do their part in wildlife preparedness," Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire, said in a joint statement with the Riverside County Fire Department posted on Twitter.
The burn ban does not restrict campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property, and the department is willing to issue restricted temporary burn permits when there is an essential reason due to public health.
Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser joined with Tyler in stressing the importance of the public's cooperation not only with the suspension, but in preparing their homes for the possibility of wildfire.
The statement on Twitter also provided some tips that residents can follow to effectively prepare their property against wildfires. The tips include clearing all dead and/or dying vegetation within 100 feet of any structures; landscaping using fire-resistant plants and nonflammable ground cover; and utilizing alternative ways of disposing of landscape debris, such as chipping or taking it to a waste facility.
In addition to the burn ban, the Riverside County fire chief has decided to close several "hazardous fire danger hiking areas," which went into effect on Monday, May 23. The closed trails include Eagle Canyon/Tin Mine, Steel Peak, Bautista Canyon, North Mountain, Whitewater Canyon and Ramona Bowl. Violators may be subject to a minimum fine of $100 for their first offense. The burn ban and closures will remain in effect until further notice.