Brush Fire In Riverside, Jurupa Valley Fully Contained

RIVERSIDE, CA — A brush fire that erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom along the boundary separating Riverside and Jurupa Valley was fully contained Saturday after burning 17 acres.

The fire broke out around 4 p.m. Friday along Mission Boulevard in the middle of the river bottom, just north of Mount Rubidoux, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. It was propelled by moderate Santa Ana winds before Cal Fire aircraft slowed it down.

The agency said the flames originated in Jurupa Valley but were pushed into the Riverside city limits within minutes.

Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Riverside Fire Department and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate to the south amid 10 to 20 mph winds, which lost intensity as daylight faded.

Two Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher by 4:45 p.m., slowing its advance and enabling ground crews to begin establishing tentative containment lines.

No homes or other structures were threatened. However, the blaze approached a solar power farm in the area of Santa Ana River Trail and Tequesquite Avenue, but it stalled prior to expanding into the facility, according to officials at the scene.

No evacuations were required.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. It was the second one in the river bottom Friday. The first one was stopped at one acre. The area is replete with homeless encampments, and cooking, warming and debris fires are common year-round.

— City News Service