A four-alarm fire that erupted Monday in a lumber yard on the northeastern edge of Riverside consumed a pile of pallets and damaged tractors before spreading onto a soccer field and golf course amid high winds.
The non-injury blaze was reported just after 3 p.m. Monday in the area of Main Street and Garner Road, between the Santa Ana River bottom and Interstate 215, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews from the city encountered flames spreading quickly through the property, burning about 40 pallets and damaging at least two tractors — causing their propane fuel tanks to explode — as firefighters established hose lays.
Northeast winds were gusting to about 20 mph at the time.
Just as firefighters were gaining the upper hand in the lumber yard, the flames jumped Main Street and spread into a soccer field and adjacent municipal golf course, officials said. Riverside police officers shut down access to Main.
Two or three businesses were evacuated for public safety, according to reports from the scene.
Riverside County Fire Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and Corona Fire Department crews were requested to assist in a regional mutual aid broadcast.
There were reports of languid or decreasing water pressure to fill the fire hoses, and despite the fire department’s request that Riverside Public Utilities elevate pressure levels, there was no change as of 4:15 p.m.
The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.