Burn Operation Scheduled All Week In San Jacinto Mountains

The following is a Jan. 2, 2024, news release from Cal Fire:

IDYLLWILD-PINE COVE, CA — CAL FIRE has scheduled a pile-burning operation beginning Tuesday, January 2nd to Friday, January 5th. The burn site is located south of Stone Creek
Campground, east of Highway 243, and north of Pine Cove.

This operation is part of the Stone Creek Hazardous Fuel Reduction project, involving the controlled burning of woody debris piles. The project aims to enhance fire suppression, reduce wildfire intensity, slow down fire spread, and ensure safe public evacuation during fire incidents through activities like thinning, cutting, pruning and piling woody material for burning.

Drift smoke may be visible from nearby communities but will disperse quickly and is not expected to be a health hazard. Burning operations typically begin after 7:00 A.M. and conclude by 5:00 P.M. the same day.

The burning operation will only occur on permissive burn days as determined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

The CAL FIRE / Riverside County Fire Department Public Affairs and Community
Education Bureau can be reached at (951) 940-6985 or RRUPIO@fire.ca.gov