Firefighters to Burn Slash Piles in Mt. San Jacinto State Park

IDYLLWILD, CA- Forest debris and excess vegetation will be set ablaze Tuesday during a prescribed burn in Mt. San Jacinto State Park, prompting officials to assure residents and people passing through the area not to be alarmed by the smoke.

Riverside County firefighters will be begin the operation at 6:30 a.m. in the Dark Canyon area off of state Route 243 and Santa Rosa Road east of Idyllwild. Additional burns are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

More than 50 slash piles will be torched as part of Cal Fire’s “vegetation management program,” according to the fire department.

Excess foliage has been removed from the forest “to help reduce the wildfire risk and promote biodiversity through the development of young trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs,” an agency spokeswoman said.

The controlled burns will be monitored by crews, who will suspend burning if winds kick up.

Fire department officials anticipate calm conditions all week. The fire department is coordinating with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to ensure that drifting smoke is minimized to maintain healthful air quality.

Anyone with questions or concerns was directed to contact fire Capt. Michael Sebastian at (951) 659-3329.

– By City News Service.