Fire victims to receive help at Thursday workshop
Property owners who suffered losses in recent wildfiresin the Banning Pass are being offered the opportunity to take advantage offee waivers and other recovery-related assistance, which will be outlinedduring a workshop Thursday in Beaumont.
Riverside County Supervisors Marion Ashley and Jeff Stone will host the6 p.m. workshop at Beaumont City Hall, 550 E. Sixth St.
Representatives from the county’s Office of Emergency Services, the firedepartment and other agencies are expected to be on hand to answer questionsand speak one-on-one with residents.
The main topic: fee waivers approved last week by the Board of Supervisors.
After learning that many residents impacted by the Mountain and Silverfires may not have adequate insurance coverage, the board decided totemporarily suspend fees for building and development permits, as well as feescharged for landfill access, for the benefit of fire victims.
The Mountain Fire began July 15 near state Routes 74 and 243, south ofIdyllwild, scorching 27,500 acres, destroying seven homes and a dozen otherstructures before it was fully contained on July 30. The blaze was ignited byelectrical equipment that caught fire on private property, according to countyofficials.
The Silver Fire broke out south of Banning on Aug. 7 and blackened20,292 acres on both sides of Highway 243 over six days before being fullycontained. Twenty-six homes were destroyed and another 25 structures weredamaged by the flames. The cause remains under investigation.
