The Mission Fire Torches20 Acres During Santa Ana Winds
INCIDENT DATE/TIME:10-18-24, 4:15 pm
LOCATION: West of the End of Tequesquite Avenue, Santa Ana Riverbottom
AREA/CITY: Riverside
DETAILS:
RIVERSIDE – A brush fire that erupted Friday in the Santa Ana River bottom along the boundary separating Riverside and Jurupa Valley, propelled by Santa Ana winds, scorched almost 20 acres before Cal Fire aircraft slowed it down.
The non-injury “Mission Fire” was reported at 4 p.m. along Mission Boulevard in the middle of the river bottom, just north of Mount Rubidoux, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said the flames originated in Jurupa Valley but were pushed into the Riverside city limits within minutes.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Riverside Fire Department and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate to the south amid 10 to 20 mph Santa Ana winds, which lost intensity as daylight faded.
Two Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher by 4:45 p.m., slowing its advance and enabling ground crews to begin establishing tentative containment lines.
The fire was initially estimated at 40 acres, but the figure was adjusted lower after air crews mapped it.
No homes or other structures were threatened. However, the blaze approached a solar power farm in the area of Santa Ana River Trail and Tequesquite Avenue, but it stalled prior to expanding into the facility, according to officials at the scene.
No evacuations were required.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. It was the second one in the river bottom Friday. The first one was stopped at one acre. The area is replete with homeless encampments, and cooking, warming and debris fires are common year-round.
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