Cal Fire responded to reports of a building filled with smoke at the Yokoji Zen Mountain Center on Thursday, April 21. When firefighters arrived just before 8 a.m., they found a single-story structure with light smoke showing, confined to one room. Responders contained the fire within half an hour. Zen Center resident Melissa Severa said…

County Service Area (CSA) 38 advisory committee was dissolved last week by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting. The committee was appointed by Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington and served the area of Pine Cove. CSA 38 funding comes from an Ad-Valorem tax (property tax) for enhanced structural fire…

Following the announcement of new tighter fire restrictions throughout the San Bernardino National Forest, the California State Parks has also tightened its restrictions on the local state areas. At the Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness, the extreme fire danger caused by prolonged drought resulted in implementing new restrictions effective Tuesday, June 30. These…

A small fire ignited about noon when a vehicle and trailer were in an accident just west of Mountain Center on Highway 74. The Mount Fire, on both sides of the highway, reached three acres, is contained, according to Incident Commander Chris Fogle, Battalion Chief San Jacinto Ranger District. Firefighters from the District’s Engine 56…