County park campfires

By Suzie Bennett
Contributed

For the past 14 months our top priority in life shifted 360 degrees. We were called to focus on personal, family and community health due to COVID-19. Most other concerns were put on hold. As life is settling into a new normal where we can pick up on issues that were in a to-do file, I found the letter to the editor on campfires in the TC, week June 17, 2021, very welcoming.
I, too, became extremely concerned about the use of wood burning campfires in our county park campground shortly after Idyllwild’s 2018 Cranston Fire that came close to destroying our dear village.
I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around how the County of Riverside could approve such ordinances allowing the use of wood firepits in such a volatile environment anytime of the year. And months after the Cranston Fire, I was appalled to see additional firepits and picnic tables installed merely feet away from the oldest and most sacred trees in Idyllwild — where Native American tribes surrounded these trees holding council meetings. I found it unfathomable!
I began my inquiry for answers and rationale with the county park employees who could not provide me with answers to my concerns. I made inquiries with homeowners on lower Pine Crest Avenue whose homes back up to the park.
I spoke with residents of Royal Pines Trailer Park whose homes abut the park. I made a trip over to our fire department inquiring of the department’s concern for the wood firepits great fire hazard to our community. I made several phone calls to Riverside County seeking the appropriate liaison to have a conversation, to no avail, after numerous phone transfers. Other concerned residents have also not been able to get county officials’ affirmative attention for this huge issue.
Fast forward to today as we are experiencing extremely high temperature changes on our mountain top and summer is just beginning. We are at an even higher risk for forest fires. We haven’t had a rainfall in many months and our Earth is parched, dry as a bone.
As a result, I join the sentiments of the letter written by Eric Adams urging our officials to ban wood fires in our county park as mandated by the local U.S. Forest Service and state park.
Will other Idyllwild residents reach out to county officials?

Riverside County Fire Chief
Administrative headquarters
210 W. San Jacinto Ave.
Perris, CA 92570

Riverside County Fire Marshal
2300 Market Street, Suite #150
Riverside, CA 92501

Chuck Washington
Riverside County Supervisor,
Third District
Michelle DeArmond, Chief of Staff
[email protected]

RivCoNOW
Jeff Van Wagenen
County Executive Officer
[email protected]