Fire Chief Suspends Issuance of Burning Permits

RIVERSIDE - Beginning today, the Riverside County Fire Department will suspend the issuance of burning permits in unincorporated communities as a safety precaution.

''Critical fire weather and (the) acute dryness of vegetation'' warrants rescinding open-burning privileges, with few exceptions, said Fire Chief John Hawkins, who, under the state Public Resources Code, has the authority to impose a ban on open burning when public safety is at risk.

The burning prohibition does not apply to cities, which issue their own permits, or to farmers clearing land in the Coachella and Palo Verde valleys....