Morongo Basin firefighters were busy this weekend. County Fire Battalion Chief Donnie Viloria said there were two unrelated fires about a mile apart in the Yucca Mesa area of Yucca Valley Saturday and Sunday. Just before noon on Saturday, a resident in the area of Indio Avenue and Meredith Court was burning a fire in a pit when embers started vegetation on fire, and the wind rapidly spread the flames. Firefighters from Yucca Mesa, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree were able to keep the fire from spreading beyond the property’s two acres, and were on scene about an hour.
Then Sunday, Viloria said the strong winds picked up a trampoline and a swing set in the back yard of a home in the area of Indio and Sun Mesa and carried them over the top of the house where they landed on power lines. The sparks started a fire in the dry vegetation, threatening four nearby homes. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from reaching the homes.
Also on Sunday, just before 10 p.m. firefighters were called to an appliance fire in a home in the 6600 block of Split Rock Avenue in Twentynine Palms. The fire was contained to the appliance and the home was saved.
Viloria reminds residents to get a burn permit before burning trash on their property. Residents who do not get a permit or who burn when burning is prohibited could be responsible for reimbursement costs. Burn permits are free from your local fire department.
