RRU - Maxwell VMP - Pile Burning Operation to Take Place Throughout Winter and into Spring

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), will be conducting debris and slash pile burning intermittently on weekdays, starting after March 11, 2009 and will continue throughout the winter into spring. The pile burning will take place east of Idyllwild from the south end of town to the north end at Humber State Park following the Maxwell Scenic Trail. This pile burning operation is part of the Maxwell Vegetation Management Project (VMP), which is designed to reduce fuel loading and modify the fuel arrangement around the perimeter of the community of Idyllwild. This is part of a pre-fire plan to keep a major fire from moving into the community and to provide safe emergency egress for citizens and ingress for fire fighting equipment east of Idyllwild in the event of a wildfire. In addition, the fuel-modified zone will better enable the fire department to keep fires that might start within the community or along the Maxwell Scenic Trail from moving into the surrounding wildlands. The pile burning operations utilize CAL FIRE fire engines and CAL FIRE Bautista Conservation Camp Fire Crews. The Maxwell VMP is one of several planned programs in the Mountain Communities area to mitigate hazards and educate the public in advance of a major wildfire. Burning operations will typically begin after 8:30 AM and will conclude by 4:00 PM each day of burning. The burning operations will only occur on permissive burn days as determined by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and CAL FIRE /Riverside County Fire Department.

Contact: Chief Kevin Turner
Chief Dan Johnson
(951) 659-3337