Owners of Overgrown Properties Issued Notices as Fire Season Approaches

On March 30, the Riverside County Fire Department Hazard Reduction Office sent out Notice of Violation and Order to Abate to property owners that have not cleared parcels with overgrown weeds, dry grasses and other flammable vegetation.

The annual hazardous vegetation abatement inspections have been completed by fire personnel on vacant parcels within the Riverside County Fire Department unincorporated service area, including French Valley, Winchester, De Luz and other unincorporated communities surrounding Temecula.

With the combination of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures during the past winter season, vegetation is quickly drying and has become a fire hazard. With summer approaching and temperatures rising, fire danger will increase within the flammable vegetation and in turn become a predominate fuel source for wildland fires.

Property owners who receive a Notice of Violation and Order to Abate must clear their cited parcel(s) within 30 days, as per the requirements set forth in the notice.

Each year, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department responds to wildland fires caused by improper equipment use. Those preventable fires are caused by the landowners and/or hired contractors by improper use of motorized equipment and conducting brush clearance too late in the day.

Fires caused by improper equipment use are costly and operators that are found to be negligent will be held liable for the cost associated with fire suppression. Following the guidelines on proper brush clearance and the safe use of equipment used to clear brush will reduce the chance of ignition and spread of wildland fires.

The Cal Fire website has a page for people that receive a notice to abate.

For additional information and/or assistance on hazardous vegetation abatement on a vacant parcel within the unincorporated areas, call (951) 943-0640. Please visit www.readyforwildfire.org to begin your plan in protecting your family and home from damaging wildland fires.

-Riverside County Fire Department