A brush fire in the Santa Ana River bottom impacting Jurupa Valley and Riverside was holding Thursday at close to 1,500 acres and 40% containment, with most evacuation orders and warnings still in effect.
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.
As of Thursday morning, officials mapped the fire at 1,456 acres.
“Crews and resources worked tirelessly through (Wednesday) night, continuing fire suppression efforts, mop-up and fire suppression repair operations, establishing and securing containment lines,” according to a fire department statement.
There was no word on when full containment might be achieved.
Numerous engine and hand crews from the county, Riverside Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, Ontario Fire Department and other agencies were sent to the brusher when it erupted, encountering wind-driven flames moving through thick brush.
The flames spread 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 adjacent ones that intersect Sunnyvale Drive, Mountain High Drive, Western Avenue and Western Hills Drive. Evacuation warnings were in effect for additional neighborhoods in the area of Sandy Lane and Valley Drive.
Neighborhoods along the river bottom in Jurupa Valley were also affected, as well as the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter at Clay Street and Van Buren Boulevard, which was evacuated Tuesday night, with all of the animals relocated to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. The county Department of Animal Services has requested that residents able to temporarily foster a pet to free up space visit the location and pick one up.
Specific locations under evacuation orders or warnings were identifiable via the following digital map: protect.genasys.com/search.
Three residents suffered smoke inhalation injuries, while another person suffered unspecified traumatic injuries during the height of the fire. All of the victims were transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment.
An evacuation reception center was established at the Skyview Event Center, 5257 Wineville Ave. in Jurupa Valley.
Riverside Police Department officers and sheriff’s deputies implemented road closures for public safety along Arlington Avenue between Hidden Valley Nature Center Drive and Western Hills Drive. Closures were also put into effect on Van Buren Boulevard between Jurupa Avenue and Clay Street, in addition to Tyler Street at Jurupa Avenue.
The cause of the brusher was under investigation.