Spot Fires Burn Vegetation Along Santa Ana River Bottom In RivCo

JURUPA VALLEY, CA — Two spot fires that broke out Thursday along the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley together scorched nearly a half-acre but did not threaten any surrounding homes before they were stopped.

The non-injury fires were reported at 1:40 p.m. Thursday, the first in the area of Ridgeview and Holmes avenues, and the second near the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area north of Arlington Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the locations and encountered flames moving at a slow rate, not in the immediate vicinity of residential properties.

Firefighters quickly established hose lays and contained the Ridgeview blaze within 45 minutes, according to reports from the scene.

The second, smaller fire in the nature preserve was stopped by 2:30 p.m.

Crews were expected to complete mopping up by 4 p.m.

There was no word on what might have triggered the fires. The river bottom is replete with homeless encampments, where cooking, warming and debris fires are common year-round.

—City News Service