Latest news with #RiversideFireDepartment
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Riverside County supervisors approve fire chief's request to close hiking trails during wildfire season
The Riverside Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve a request from the county fire chief to close a number of outdoor recreational locations and hiking trails for the duration of the looming wildfire season. Since 2007, the Riverside County Fire Department has sought to receive authorization from officials to close designated grounds in the central and southwest regions in the county from June to November to minimize public safety risk. "Due to the potential for large damaging human-caused fires, the county fire chief has determined these areas should be closed, except on public roadways and on inhabited areas of private property within the closure area," said a statement from the department. "The potential for large damaging fires this year may be enhanced by the extreme vegetation growth experienced throughout Riverside County." Fire Chief Bill Weiser plans to implement the closures beginning on June 15. Even with lower precipitation levels from the average last winter, much of Southern California experienced exponential growth after multiple storms in late-March and April. That vegetation has since turned brown, especially with warmer weather settling in over recent weeks. Because of this, officials say that several locations are now set to close due to the difficulty in managing the vegetation, the rough terrain and their remoteness, fire officials said. Those locations include: Bautista Canyon, located southeast of Hemet near the Anza Valley and San Jacinto Valley, Eagle Canyon, near Lake Matthews and the county landfill north of Cajalco Road, Indian Canyon and North Mountain near San Jacinto, Ramona Bowl south of Hemet, Steele Peak, located between Meadowbrook and Good Hope north of Lake Elsinore, and Whitewater Canyon near Cabazon. Officials say that the Ramona Bowl will remain accessible between sunrise and noon daily, but that it will be off-limits limiting foot traffic and off-road vehicles in those areas, firefighters believe the chance of a significant wildfire breaking out are much slimmer. Crews will place closure signs at entry points at each of the locations, warning violators of potential fines and other penalties, but residents will be allowed to travel through the areas as always.
CBS News
27-04-2025
- CBS News
Investigators searching for arson suspect who lit several fires in Riverside
Authorities are searching for an arson suspect who they believe is responsible for starting several fires in Riverside on Friday. Three different brush fires were reported at around 10:15 p.m., but Riverside Fire Department crews that they actually found seven different fires burning in the area near American Legion Riverside Post 79 at Lake Evans to Mission Inn Avenue, according to department officials. "As the first due engine made entry on to the Santa Ana River Trail, the company officer was notified by bystanders that a homeless person wrapped in a blanket was lighting the fires," said a Facebook post from the department. Arson investigators were called to the scene to assist with the investigation. In total, the fires burned just over an acre of vegetation in the area before crews were able to contain the flames. Despite also receiving assistance from Riverside Police Department helicopter Air One helping with reconnaissance, they were unable to locate the suspect. Investigators said they would return to the area in the next few days as their probe continued. No injuries were reported in any of the fires and no structures were damaged.
CBS News
23-02-2025
- CBS News
Woman riding motorcycle dead after crash with big rig on I-215 in Riverside
A woman riding a motorcycle was killed during a crash involving a big rig on the 215 Freeway in Riverside on Thursday. It happened a little before 8 p.m. on southbound lanes near Van Buren Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. They say that the woman, identified as 61-year-old Riverside woman Stephanie Varieur, was riding a three-wheel Can-Am Spyder motorcycle when she began to turn right and collided with the trailer of a semi truck. "The Spyder was caught by the wheels of the truck," police said. "The motorcycle was flipped over, and the rider was thrown into lanes." After the crash, the big rig driver pulled off the road onto the right shoulder while dragging the bike with it. Police say that other drivers spotted Varieur lying in the No. 2 lane and called to report that a pedestrian had been struck on the freeway. A pickup truck driver stopped to block the lane and protect her from being hit by other cars. Paramedics with the Riverside Fire Department pronounced Varieur dead at the scene. Three of the four southbound lanes were closed for several hours while the investigation continued. Anyone who knows more is urged to contact CHP officers at (951) 324-7210.
