Supervisors Get Tough (Again) on Fire Hazards
It's that time of year when the County of Riverside starts ramping up fire prevention efforts as fire threats increase.
Two of those threats are the increased use of fireworks and the drying out of wild lands vegetation were specifically addressed at the Board meeting on Tuesday.
The Supervisors fine-tuned the penalties for possession and use of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of the County. Those fines amount to at least $100 for a first-use infraction, but can be as high as $1,000 and imprisonment.
"No person shall have in his possession, or keep, store, use, shoot, discharge, set off, ignite, explode, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, give or transport any FIREWORKS, DANGEROUS FIREWORKS, or SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS..." says Ordinance 858.
Which pretty means anything having to do with any type of fireworks is illegal.
Each year, the County responds to literally thousands of incidents and confiscates hundreds if not thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks. Fireworks cause a disproportionate number of injuries to children, and each year they are responsible for dozens of fires in the county.
In response to a request from Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins, the Supervisors also closed several fire prone areas till further notice, including Whitewater Canyon-the only closure in the desert area. These extremely hazardous areas-and the agenda item approved by the Board-can be found Here.