County to Recoup Fire Reduction Costs From Banning, Other County Property Owners

The Board of Supervisors this week authorized the Riverside County Fire Department to add unpaid fire mitigation charges to the tax bills of delinquent property owners with parcels in unincorporated communities throughout the county.

Following a public hearing, the board voted 4-0 on Tuesday -- with Supervisor John Tavaglione absent -- to impose tax liens on 400 parcels that fell under the jurisdiction of the county's Fire Reduction Program.

At least one property owner was able to resolve her case prior to the hearing, and was therefore exempted from the board action.

In that case, the resident had not received a notice regarding the unpaid charges.

"It happens a lot to people every year," Supervisor Marion Ashley said. "It happens to me every year. I don't receive a notice."

Fire Chief John Hawkins said he was aware of notification deficiencies and would continue "to improve working with constituents" to prevent repeats.

The Fire Reduction Program involves deploying "fire prevention technicians" to clear weeds, related overgrowth and debris from properties that might otherwise help fuel wildfires. Hawkins said the aim is to create "100 feet of defensible space."

In most cases, the parcels are vacant or set off from main residences, according to the fire department.

Property owners were served with orders to abate or mitigate the potential fire hazards, and when inspectors received no reply, landscaping contractors were sent to the locations under fire department authority to clear away the excess foliage.

Properties in Banning, Cabazon, Calimesa, Cherry Valley, El Cerrito, Good Hope, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Lakeland Village, Mead Valley, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, Temecula and Woodcrest were identified in fire department documents submitted to the board.

Agency spokesman Joe Louis said mitigation expenses last year ran roughly $132 per acre. Property owners were billed to recover the county's expenditures, which generally ranged from $80 to as high as $4,000 per property.

A $254 administrative fee was folded into the final bill sent to property owners. The total amount due on the delinquent list is $181,976.

Those who received notices but didn't respond are the parties from whom the fire department is seeking payment via property taxes.

— By City News Service.