Controlled burns planned for Mt. San Jacinto State Park
Forest debris and other vegetation will be set ablaze this week during a prescribed burn in Mt. San Jacinto State Park, so residents and people passing through the area shouldn’t be alarmed, authorities said Monday.
Riverside County firefighters will begin the operation Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. in the Dark Canyon area, off of state Route 243 and Santa Rosa Road, east of Idyllwild. Additional burns are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
More than 50 slash piles will be torched as part of Cal Fire’s “vegetation management program,” according to the fire department. Excess foliage has been removed from the park “to help reduce the wildfire risk and promote biodiversity through the development of young trees, shrubs, and grasses,” an agency spokeswoman said.
The controlled burns will be actively monitored by crews, who will suspend burning if winds kick up.
Fire department officials anticipate calm conditions all week. The fire department is coordinating with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to ensure that drifting smoke is minimized to maintain healthful air quality.
Anyone with questions or concerns should contact fire Capt. Michael Sebastian at (951) 659-3329.
