Riverside County fire departments are suspending fire permits for outdoors due to fears that the 2022 wildfire season could be even more disastrous than in previous years, reflecting the nation’s continuing mega-drought.

“As we enter the summer months, we are experiencing critical fire behavior due to warmer temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation,” Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser said in a news release Sunday, May 22.

The ban takes place on Monday, May 23 at 8am.

The ban means that residents will not be allowed to burn landscape rubbish such as tree branches and leaves on their properties.

But the ban will have no effect on camp fires, as long as residents receive permits for the fire and to keep wildfires from setting.

Campfires are allowed continue to be used on organised campsites.

Most of California continues to be in an extremely drought-tolerant state, according to the US Drought Monitoring Program at The University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Watch also: Riverside County fire chief bans outdoor incineration amid megawave, early wildfire season

Camp Fire (2018)

The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history, and the most expensive natural disaster in the world in 2018 in terms of insured losses. (wikipedia)

Thomas Fire

The Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and one of multiple wildfires that ignited in southern California in December 2017. (wikipedia)

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