After several years of being dark, the Mountain Area Safety Task Force (MAST) is planning meetings again this year. Participants have included fire agencies, water districts, nonprofit organizations and other groups that have a say in safety issues on the Hill. The public forums are from 11 a.m. to noon the Wednesdays of March 13,…

Rainfall in a high fire-hazard area is precious. Since July 1, the beginning of the 2013-14 rain year, Idyllwild (at the Keenwild Fire Station in Mountain Center) has received about 5.2 inches of rain — 50 percent greater than normal through October. Pine Cove has received about 4.8 inches of rain and 2 inches of…