


Large audience attends Esperanza Fire book reading
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Former and current U.S. Forest Service colleagues of five lost firefighters attended the discussion of Maclean’s book on the Esperanza Fire. All were present during the Esperanza Fire. From left are Pat Boss, former PIO, Captain Fred Espinoza, Captain Chris Fogle, Captain Richard Gearhart and Norm Walker, former Fire Management Chief for the San Jacinto Ranger District. Maclean is standing at the lectern. Photo by Jenny Kirchner



More wildfires and greater areas burned is the forecast for the future as climate change continues. Recently, a new study published in the “Environmental Research Letters” expects fire severity to decrease. Fire severity is the extent of change in the local vegetation one year after a major fire. For example, if brushes and shrubs took…
An administrative law judge recommended overturning Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz’s 2014 decision to fire former Capt. James Reyes. But the Idyllwild Fire Protection District commissioners have refused to adopt his decision and want to review the records, including the transcripts for the seven days of hearings. After a series of hearings over the past…
Cal Fire (the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), in cooperation with California State Parks, will be conducting a prescribed burn consisting of brush and slash piles in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park off Highway 243 in the Stone Creek area. The project began Tuesday, Jan. 31, and will continue for the next…
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, Nov. 19 to 25. Idyllwild • Nov. 19 — Public intoxication, 2:47 a.m., 25000 block of Hwy. 243 Handled by deputy. • Nov. 19 — Alarm call, 5:01 a.m., North Circle Dr. Handled by deputy. • Nov. 19…
The Nov. 8 ballot will include an important bond measure, as well as numerous races for state, federal and local representatives. On July 31, the Hemet Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a resolution to place a $150-million bond measure on the ballot. The board gave unanimous consent to asking voters for their approval….