Residents May Smell Smoke Into Monday After Arlanza Mulch Fire In Riverside, Orange County

BEAUMONT, CA — Residents may still smell the smoke for several days after a 20-acre mulch fire over the weekend. Firefighters have contained the blaze named the Arlanza Fire that was sparked by an offroad vehicle driving through a mulch pile, officials say.

All evacuation orders have been lifted as firefighters now work on mopping up hot spots and continuing to protect homes.

The most impacted area during the Arlanza fire was the La Sierra Acres neighborhood area in Riverside, officials said. Still, smoke could be seen and smelled from Corona to Irvine, in neighboring Orange County, according to reports.

One firefighter was injured battling the blaze, Riverside Fire Department reports.

No homes were destroyed in the fire.

Arlanza Fire Update:
Riverside Fire Department crews will be on scene throughout today and tonight mopping up hot spots and protecting homes. All evacuation orders have been lifted for the Arlanza Fire. pic.twitter.com/QwbwNhINrv
— City of Riverside Fire Department (@rivcafire) November 22, 2021

The blaze was reported shortly before 11:30 a.m. Sunday near Jurupa Avenue and Tyler Street, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Amid Santa Ana winds, multiple departments from across the Southland came to fight this fire.

Ninety firefighters, two helicopters, two air tankers and three bulldozers were deployed to the fire while residents on the north side of Valley Drive between Mitchell and Chadbourne avenues were evacuated.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services evacuated two horses.

"Structures were threatened but no reported damage," the fire department tweeted at 2:56 p.m.

The Cause Of The Fire

Riverside Fire Department Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst discussed the origins of this event, saying that a car being driven off-road attempted to make a turn around in the mulch pile.

"The three occupants of the vehicle were able to escape the vehicle and were non-injured," Vanderhorst said.

The fire was reported under control at 4:30 p.m. and there was no longer any threat to the nearby residential neighborhood, Vanderhorst said.

Smoke was visible across the Inland Empire and into Orange County.

Residents in Corona, Anaheim Hills, Anaheim and Irvine, reported seeing and smelling the smoke from the fire on social media.

The #LanzaFire in Jurupa Valley/Riverside is at about 25 acres now.

There is no threat to Anaheim but we are getting drift smoke from the fire about 30 miles northeast of us.

Full attack continues with air tankers, helicopters and ground crews. pic.twitter.com/IS3G610u7o
— City of Anaheim (@City_of_Anaheim) November 22, 2021

Firefighters remained on high alert Monday as strong gusts and low humidity triggered a red flag warning for much of the Southland until at least 7 p.m.

City News Service contributed to this report.