Multiple Wildfires Burn In Riverside County Amid Gusty Winds

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Brush fires were prompting evacuations on Tuesday in Riverside County, and there are reports of injuries.

The first, which erupted in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley, has charred nearly 100 acres and expanded rapidly in the direction of homes, leaving four people injured and prompting mandatory evacuations.

The blaze was reported at 11:22 a.m. Tuesday on the north side of the dry channel, in the area of Bain Street and Limonite Avenue, just north of the Hidden Valley Nature Center, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said numerous engine and hand crews from the county, Riverside Fire Department and surrounding agencies responding to a mutual aid request were sent to the location, encountering wind-driven flames moving at a moderate rate through thick brush.

Shortly before 1 p.m., the flames were spreading quickly toward groups of homes in the area of Arlington and Western avenues in Riverside, leading to evacuation orders for dozens of residences around that intersection, including on Sunnyvale Drive, Mountain High Drive, Western Avenue and Western Hills Drive.

Three residents suffered smoke inhalation injuries, while another person suffered unspecified traumatic injuries, according to reports from the scene. The latter victim was taken to a Riverside hospital for treatment. The other parties reportedly did not require further treatment after they were assessed by paramedics.

At least two Cal Fire water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher just after 1 p.m., but there was no word on air tankers.

Riverside Police Department officers, aided by sheriff's deputies, implemented hard road closures for public safety along Arlington, between Hidden Valley Nature Center Drive and Western Hills Drive.

There was no word on what might have triggered the brusher. The river bottom is teeming with homeless encampments, and debris, cooking and warming fires occur year-round.

Another wind-driven brush fire, which broke out Tuesday north of Homeland, has scorched roughly 140 acres, destroyed outbuildings, threatened multiple homes and a mobile home park, and prompted mandatory evacuations and warnings.

The non-injury blaze was reported 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on a hillside in the area of Juniper Springs and Juniper Flats roads, north of Highway 74, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Soboba Tribal Fire Department and Hemet Fire Department were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate through medium vegetation, with three to four homes in the direct path of the brusher.

Firefighters established a defensive perimeter and prevented the brusher from impacting occupied homes, but outbuildings in the area were consumed by the fire, according to reports from the scene. Mandatory evacuations were implemented for properties scattered south of Juniper Springs Road.

An evacuation warning was declared for the Panorama Cove Mobile Home Park at 32600 Highway 74.

Sheriff's deputies closed a segment of Juniper Flats for public safety. The highway remained open as of 1:45 p.m.

Two Cal Fire air tankers initiated runs on the wildfire by 1:20 p.m.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

In nearby San Bernardino County, a brush fire was burning in Chino Hills on Tuesday.

The 11-acre Willow Fire was reported around 12:37 p.m. at 4600 Soquel Canyon Parkway.

According to Cal Fire, evacuation warnings were issued but lifted at 12:45 p.m.

—City News Service contributed to this report.