Smoke On I-215 Due To Fire At Salvation Army Store: Perris

PERRIS, CA — A fire that erupted Tuesday adjacent to a Salvation Army facility in Perris damaged the building and spread into a field alongside Interstate 215, burning several acres before crews began making headway.

The three-alarm blaze was reported about 3:35 p.m. next to the Salvation Army & Family Store at 24201 Orange Ave. There were no reports of injuries.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department dispatched two dozen engine crews and two truck companies that encountered flames devouring a large debris pile, extending to the Salvation Army building, part of which was reportedly closed, though staff were at the site.

The fire made a run into a field, moving quickly toward the freeway, which was blanketed in smoke, according to the California Highway Patrol. No traffic lanes were closed, but visibility was drastically reduced, and units ran traffic breaks on both the north- and southbound sides.

A SigAlert was issued at 4:30 p.m. because of the conditions.

Rail lines in the vicinity of the freeway were closed shortly before 5 p.m. because of hazards to trains, including the Metrolink commuter variety that operate throughout the day.

Several spot fires broke out, keeping firefighters on the move. Help was requested from other agencies, and crews from the Corona, Ontario and Riverside fire departments converged on the area, either to battle the structure fire or the wildland blaze.

CHP officers shut down the intersection of Harvill and Orange avenues for public safety.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.