Cause Of Riverside Blaze That Threatened Homes Revealed

RIVERSIDE, CA — A fire that nearly spread to homes on the north end of Riverside, burning roughly a quarter acre before crews got it under control, was triggered by illegal use of fireworks, authorities said Monday.

The non-injury blaze was reported just after 9 p.m. Sunday in the area of Jurupa Avenue and Tyler Street, near a row of residences overlooking the Santa Ana River bottom, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Battalion Chief Mike Allen said that three engine crews, numbering about a dozen personnel, were sent to the location and encountered "a vegetation fire behind the houses."

"The fire was moving at a moderate rate of spread," Allen said. "Firefighters quickly deployed hose lines and were able to keep the fire contained at a quarter acre."

The flames were completely knocked down by 9:30 p.m. Sunday. No residential spaces were damaged.

He said an arson investigator was summoned and quickly determined "the cause of the fire was the use of fireworks."

Private use of pyrotechnics is prohibited citywide by ordinance.

No suspects were identified Monday. The investigation was ongoing.

Last July, a 600-acre brush fire unintentionally ignited by three juveniles playing with fireworks in Riverside's Hawarden neighborhood on the south edge of the city destroyed seven homes.

Anyone with information regarding Sunday's fire was asked to contact the investigators at 951-826-5321, or provide details via the city's 311 service.