Riverside Fire Authority is in the process of implementing a new policy that redefines situations where firefighters would step foot on property after allegations of an illegal burn.
RFA Chief Mike Kytta said the changes don’t apply to fires that are threatening property or people, but are rather intended for law enforcement to respond to calls of illegal burns that are still under control but violate the conditions of burning restrictions or bans.
“We’ve been working with a changing environment in the last few years, where wildfires have become more frequent in our area, and I think the public and the local governments are becoming more aware of that,” said Kytta, adding that recently, his department has started to consider the ways in which they respond to calls of illegal burns.