On the recommendation of Cal Fire/Riverside County Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Patterson, the Board of Supervisors, at its June 21 meeting, approved the closure of seven potentially fire hazard areas.
The closures will remain in effect until further notice in the following areas:
• Avery Canyon (Gibbel Road east of State Street in Hemet)
• Minto (Sage)
• North Mountain and Indian Canyon (San Jacinto area)
• Nuevo/Lakeview (east of Menifee Road and San Jacinto Avenue)
• Ramona Bowl and Bautista Canyon (southeast Hemet)
• Whitewater Canyon (Cabazon, north of Palm Springs)
Riverside County Ordinance 7787 requires the Board of Supervisors to approve any closure that exceeds more than 15 days. The county fire chief considers the threat of large and damaging fires, cued to the continuing drought conditions, to justify these closures.
Ordinance 787.6 restricts public access to these identified hazardous fire areas unless private property access is required. Public roadway travel is permitted, providing travel is confined to those surfaces within hazardous fire areas. Violation of the order could result in a minimum fine of $100 for first-time offenses.
Maps for each of the affected areas may be located on the county fire department website at www.rvcfire.org.
For more information on the closure of these hazardous fire areas, contact the Cal Fire/RCFD Public Affairs Bureau at 951-940-6985.
