Starting Monday, access to popular hiking sites closed for wildfire season

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The Board of Supervisors today authorized Riverside County Fire Department Chief Bill Weiser to close access to six outdoor recreational locations for the duration of Southern California's wildfire season to minimize public safety risks.Since 2007, the department has sought and received authorization to close designated grounds -- located mainly in the central and southwest portions of the county -- typically from June to November. When the season is predicted to be especially challenging, fire officials seek closures early, as Weiser did this year.The board voted 5-0 without comment in favor of the chief's request for 2022. The closures officially go into effect Monday."Due to the potential for large damaging human-caused fires, the county fire chief