A fire erupted Monday in the Santa Ana River bottom near a Riverside park, quickly consuming an acre amid high winds but not immediately threatening any homes or other structures.
The non-injury brush fire was reported about 11:50 a.m. just east of Van Buren Boulevard and north of McLean-Anza Narrows Park, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Multiple city engine crews and several Riverside County hand crews were sent to the location, encountering flames moving through a confined area, close to where another brusher started on Thursday and consumed roughly 70 acres before it was knocked down.
Northerly winds blowing 15 mph and gusting over 30 mph were pushing the flames in the direction of the park, according to reports from the scene.
The area is dotted with homeless encampments, where warming fires during the winter are common. However, the cause of the fire was no immediately known.