2 Brushfires Ignite In Riverside County: Cal Fire

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Two blazes ignited in Riverside County midday Wednesday, according to reports from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The latest, burning near Goodhope, at Highway 74 and Ellis Avenue, according to Cal Fire Capt. John Clingingsmith. Just after 11:45 a.m., firefighters rushed to the scene, where about an acre of land was burning, he said.

One to two acres were burning with a slow rate of spread burning through moderate fuels in a riparian zone, according to Clingingsmith. "Firefighters were making good progress there," he added. The fire was out within half an hour.

The fire was in the vicinity of another small brusher that occurred Tuesday night, according to reports from the scene. It was unclear whether the two might be connected.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Earlier, firefighters kept a brush fire that ignited near Jurupa Valley to less than a quarter-acre, the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department shared.

Just after 11 a.m., smoke and flames were sighted in the area of Capary and Crestmore roads, on the north side of the Santa Ana River bottom, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson.

The agency said a half-dozen engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving slowly through thick vegetation, with little to no wind.

Firefighters established hose lays within a few minutes, halting the fire's forward rate of spread at 11:20 a.m.

Full containment was expected before noon.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. The river bottom is teeming with homeless encampments, and cooking, warming and debris fires frequently occur year-round.