(The following is from a Caltrans press release.) The California Department of Transportation continues repairing Highway 243 near Poppet Flats after finishing repairing a sinkhole at Deadman’s Curve in Pine Cove, June 29. Water runoff from snow and rain this past winter damaged a culvert and eroded slopes along the highway. Caltrans’ director issued a…
The late afternoon of July 4th, the Eagle Fire started near Lake Mathews in Riverside County. It burned 205 acres and was fully contained 24 hours later on July 5. While no structures were threatened or an evacuation warning issued, firefighters were endangered during the incident. According to Riverside County Fire Department, two privately owned…
In his first budget submission for the U.S. Forest Service, President Donald Trump has recommended cutting the funding level nearly $100 million, from $4.8 billion for the current year to $4.7 billion for fiscal year 2017-18, which begins Oct. 1. This does not include the $820,000 elimination of the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement…
Friday evening, June 30, Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department announced full containment of the Manzanita Fire, which started burning Monday, June 26. The fire eventually reached 6,309 acres. It wasn’t until Thursday, June 29, the fourth day of the fire, that evacuation warnings were lifted. The warnings, originally issued Monday evening the first…
Effective Saturday, July 1, the U.S. Forest Service imposed fire restrictions in the San Bernardino National Forest. Hot, dry and windy conditions, along with critically dry and receptive fuel types throughout the SBNF, have prompted local fire managers to implement more fire restrictions. The restrictions are designed to prevent accidental wildfires. These restrictions will affect…
More arrests on horizon Thursday, June 29, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced the arrests of nearly 50 people in Hemet-San Jacinto Valley. This was the successful culmination of a seven-month investigation, which the DA’s Gang Impact Team headed. “Operation Valley Vigilance,” the name of the operation, still has search warrants and several arrest warrants…
The Manzanita Fire, burning east of Highway 79 in Lamb Canyon, grew to 6,309 acres and was 86 percent contained by 7 a.m. Thursday. Currently, more than 1,300 firefighters, including the Idyllwild Fire Department, are combating the blaze. Three helicopters and eight aircraft are providing air attack. The fire started Monday afternoon. The apparent cause…
Last week, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2017-18, which begins July 1. The major unresolved issue is the level of funding for the Sheriff’s Department. During the discussion about the 2017-18 budget, Supervisor Marion Ashley, 5th District, stated, “Public safety is still the number one priority of…
Some changes from May proposal State legislators approved a fiscal year 2017-18 budget last Thursday, the deadline before they would have to forfeit their salaries. The budget follows closely the outlines of Gov. Jerry Brown’s May revision, but several major changes to the $125 billion budget were enacted, including a few items that do…
The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce prepares, as it does each year, to be fully staffed and ready for the challenges of fire season — a season that is lengthening each year and fueled this year by heavier precipitation. MAST is a multiagency taskforce organized to cooperate in fire response, educate the public about abatement and…
