Norton Younglove Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Riverside Unit, will implement a prescribed burning project on the Norton Younglove Habitat Reserve, a 190-acre parcel managed by Riverside County Parks and Open Space District. The primary objectives are to support emergency services training and advance habitat rehabilitation by reducing dense accumulations of non-native invasive grasses and weeds that have formed a thick thatch layer. The burn treatment is designed to deplete the seed bank of these undesirable species, creating conditions favorable for native forbs and annuals to reestablish and outcompete the invasive vegetation over time. Fire will be applied across the entire reserve, except for designated areas that are biologically, historically, or culturally sensitive, where treatment is avoided to protect ecological and cultural resources. To ensure safe and contained fire operations, control lines—four to six feet wide—will be manually constructed along the perimeter using hand tools such as shovels, McCleods, Pulaskis, and rakes to remove vegetation and expose bare mineral soil. These fuel breaks serve as fire barriers to prevent unintended spread beyond the treatment zone. Crews will install and, where necessary, rehabilitate these lines after ignitions. The project aligns with broader land management goals to restore ecological balance and reduce hazardous fuel loads, while also providing practical field training for firefighter personnel. All activities will be conducted in accordance with environmental and safety protocols, and coordination will be managed through the unit forester, Lynnette Short.