A wind-driven 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, scorching several acres before crews slowed its advance.
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 contained the flames in the lumber yard, they jumped Main Street and spread into a soccer field and adjacent municipal golf course, officials said. Riverside police officers shut down access to Main Street for public safety.
Several businesses were evacuated as a precaution. They weren’t damaged.
Crews from the Riverside County Fire Department, Cal Fire-San Bernardino County and Corona Fire Department converged on the area in response to a mutual aid request by Riverside.
A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter began making runs on the field fire shortly before 5 p.m., slowing it down and enabling ground personnel to begin establishing containment lines. The chopper departed at 5:35 p.m.
Winds persisted late in the afternoon, but they were decreasing.
There were reports of languid 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, somewhat hampering operations.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.