What happens when you mix trash, dry brush and tamarisk trees right next to a highway in the desert?

If it's hot enough, or someone in a passing car tosses a cigarette, it's likely the firefighters will come calling.

That was a concern among tenants in a commercial building at 78-078 Country Club Drive in Bermuda Dunes, where there is a lot of trash piling up behind the structure.

It was hardly the first time this type of problem had appeared, nor would it likely be the last.

Unfortunately, Riverside County Code Enforcement officials did not return calls for comment.

For those who haven't seen it, tucked away in the narrow area between the building and Interstate 10 is a pile of debris including old newspapers, tires and furniture.

The trash is surrounded by tamarisk trees, which are quite flammable if recent fires on I-10 near Cathedral City are any indication.

All it takes is a careless driver who flicks a cigarette into the area and whoosh: Dry tamarisk trees and all the extra kindling will be set on fire, putting the building and its several businesses and offices at risk.

For their sake, let's hope someone cleans it all up.

And on top of that, let's all hope that drivers in the area refrain from flicking their cigarette butts.

Whom to contact

Riverside County Code Enforcement at (760) 343-4150

Street noise

If there's one thing I hate in the morning, it's traffic waking me up.

Unfortunately, unwelcome street noise is a part of life that just about everyone has to deal with, whether it's a beeping garbage truck or someone playing music loudly.

Yes, there are noise ordinances in place to regulate the volume people set their music, but it's not like everyone follows the rules.

Case in point, a Cathedral City resident says there's been some excessive noise in the area of Dinah Shore Drive near Cathedral City High School.

Cathedral City police officers are aware of this problem and try to address noise issues as much as they can, a spokesman said.

The department prioritizes its calls, though, and with up to five officers on duty per shift, it's not always guaranteed they'll be able to respond to noise complaints coming from moving vehicles, he said.

A quick check around other cities indicated other local law enforcement agencies have similar stances on noise concerns.

“If our night is not busy with more prioritized calls, we will respond,” Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said.

Whom to contact

Your local law enforcement agency.