Prescribed Burn Scheduled This Week Near Lake Mathews

LAKE MATHEWS, CA — A prescribed burn is scheduled near Lake Mathews starting Tuesday, with the operation extending over three days, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department announced.

Cal Fire will be conducting the burn near the Cajalco Road-La Sierra intersection beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday. The operation is expected to wrap up Thursday. Smoke may be visible across the local region.

The burn on the Lake Mathews Estelle Mountain Reserve will give fire investigators a chance to practice their skills and the operation will help manage non-native weeds, according to the agency.

"The fuel-modified zone will better enable the fire department to keep fires that might start in the reserve [from] moving into the surrounding communities," the agency reported.

The burn, which is being conducted in cooperation with the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, is expected to take place from approximately 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.