A brush fire raced across two acres of terrain in Coachella Monday, destroying a residential building and igniting multiple piles of debris, while also threatening a nearby date palm grove.
The fire was reported at 2:46 p.m. in the 83000 block of Avenue 54, according to April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department.
As of 4 p.m., Newman said there was no containment of the blaze, which had fully engulfed the residential building, as well as two vehicles. A “significant wind change,” sending gusts of 15 to 20 mph through the area, was also affecting the firefight, but firefighters were able to halt the progress of the blaze sometime before 6 p.m., Newman said.
No injuries were immediately reported.
Resources from the Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Morongo fire departments also have been requested to help battle the blaze.
The fire led authorities to shut down Jackson Street between Avenue 53 and Avenue 55, as well as Avenue 54 between Jackson and Calhoun streets. Riverside County sheriff’s deputies are on scene assisting with traffic, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Power lines were also down in the area, affecting some nearby Imperial Irrigation District customers, according to Newman. An estimated restoration time was not immediately available.