RivCo Supervisors Expected to Close 'Hazardous Fire Areas'

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday is expected to authorize Riverside County fire Chief John Hawkins to close access to seven hiking and off-road sites where fire danger is high in the summer months.

Since 2007, Hawkins has sought and received authorization to close the unincorporated grounds -- located mainly in the central and southwest portions of the county -- for the duration of Southern California's fire season, generally from June to November.

"Because of the potential of dangerous fires in these areas, the County Fire Chief has determined that these areas should be closed as long as the danger exists," an agenda item seeking the closure says.  "These areas will be closed to public except for the public roadways and inhabited areas."

Like last year, Hawkins asked that the closures begin this month "because of the potential of dangerous fires in these areas," according to a fire department statement.

Dry conditions raise the risk of wildfires, and fighting them would be challenging given the sites' terrain and remoteness, according to fire officials. Already this year, two major wildfires have burned thousands of acres near one of the sites.

“We have had an extraordinary start to the 2013 season,” said Ken Pimlott, director with Riverside CalFire said last week at a fire awareness event. “We’ve had over 1,100 fires and burned almost 40,000 acres in the first four months of 2013. Which is well above, actually almost double the number of fires than we had last year and (above) the five-year average.”

The following locations would fall under the county's closure order:

• Avery Canyon, along Gibbel Road, east of State Street in southeast Hemet
• Indian Canyon and North Mountain in San Jacinto
• Minto Way in Sage, north of Aguanga
• Nuevo, east of Menifee Road and San Jacinto Avenue
• Ramona Bowl and Bautista Canyon in southeast Hemet
• Reinhardt Canyon, north of state Route 74 and California Avenue in Hemet
• Whitewater Canyon in Cabazon/North Palm Springs

By minimizing foot and vehicle traffic, the chances of a wildfire starting in the locations are much slimmer, according to the fire department.

Closure signs would be posted at entry points to warn potential violators of fines and other penalties. People who reside in or near the locations would be permitted to come and go as they please.

The closures likely would be lifted in November, but would be legally in effect "until such time as the County Fire Chief permits them to be re-opened," according to the supervisors' agenda.

– City News Service contributed to this report.

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