Starting Oct. 1, the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council will assume responsibility for the community brush collection sites in Poppet Flats and Pinyon. MCFSC approved the action at its Aug. 12 meeting. Gregg Bratcher, Cal Fire’s division chief forester on the mountain, indicated that the agency will help MCFSC secure grant funds to operate these…

Abatement inspection update Dear editor:(Editor’s note: Chuck Weisbart wrote a letter to the editor published on June 18 expressing concern about abatement requirements not being enforced for absent property owners. Here’s his follow-up about the situation in his neighborhood.)Ralph Hoetger, president of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) board, and Chief Mark LaMont came out…

The county is busy with a number of disaster response plans, initiatives and trainings. Mountain Emergency Services Coordinator Gina Moran-McGough highlighted them at the monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9. First, McGough recapped the county’s and local agencies’ interest in designating an alternate local emergency operations center where emergency responders could coordinate communication and disaster…