County supervisors expected to close hiking trails for duration of fire season

The Board of Supervisors tomorrow is expected toauthorize Riverside County fire Chief John Hawkins to close access to sevenhiking and off-road sites where fire danger is high in the summer months.

Since 2007, Hawkins has sought and received authorization to close thegrounds — located mainly in the central and southwest portions of the county –for the duration of Southern California’s fire season, generally from June toNovember.

Like last year, Hawkins is asking that the closures begin this month”because of the potential of dangerous fires in these areas,” according to afire department statement.

Dry conditions raise the risk of wildfires, and fighting them would bechallenging given the sites’ terrain and remoteness, according to fireofficials. Already this year, two major wildfires have burned thousands ofacres near one of the sites.

The following locations would fall under the county’s closure order:

— Avery Canyon, along Gibbel Road, east of State Street in southeastHemet;
— Indian Canyon and North Mountain in San Jacinto;
— Minto Way in Sage, north of Aguanga;
— Nuevo, east of Menifee Road and San Jacinto Avenue;
— Ramona Bowl and Bautista Canyon in southeast Hemet;
— Reinhardt Canyon, north of state Route 74 and California Avenue inHemet; and
— Whitewater Canyon in Cabazon.

By minimizing foot and vehicle traffic, the chances of a wildfirestarting in the locations are much slimmer, according to the fire department.

Closure signs would be posted at entry points to warn potentialviolators of fines and other penalties. People who reside in or near thelocations would be permitted to come and go as they please.

The closures likely would be lifted in November.