Firefighters to burn slash piles in Mt. San Jacinto State Park
Dont’ be alarmed if you see some smoke in the mountains this morning- south of the desert.
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 today.
Riverside County firefighters will begin the operation tomorrow 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, grasses and forbs,” an agency spokeswoman said.
he 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.
