Raging Santa Ana River Bottom Fire Prompts Evacuations in Surrounding Jurupa Valley Area

A brush fire that erupted Tuesday in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley charred an estimated 250 acres and threatened dozens of homes in Riverside, 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.

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. Specific locations were identifiable via the following digital map: protect.genasys.com/search.

Three residents suffered smoke inhalation injuries, while another person suffered unspecified traumatic injuries, according to reports from the scene. All of the victims were taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment, officials said.

Three Cal Fire water-dropping helicopters and several air tankers initiated runs on the brusher just after 1 p.m.

Power lines were down in the immediate vicinity of the river bottom, increasing dangers for firefighters and residents. The lines were reportedly de-energized for safety. It was unclear how many SoCal Edison and Riverside Public Utilities customers were without electricity.

Riverside Police Department officers and sheriff’s deputies implemented hard road closures for public safety along Arlington, between Hidden Valley Nature Center Drive and Western Hills Drive. Surrounding residential streets were also closed, except to property owners.

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.