Videos from two incidents
loudlabs.com – On Saturday afternoon a fast moving, wind and dry brush driven fire broke out in the City’s La Sierra area. The fire was reported just before 3:30pm in the 6900 block of Jones Avenue as winds in the area were blowing and becoming gusty at times. Per Public Information Officer Tim Odebralski with the City of Riverside Fire Department, at about 3:24pm multiple calls were received reporting a vegetation fire just north of Jones Avenue and Valley Drive.
The fire was wind driven in light flashy fuels with a rapid rate of spread advancing towards several homes in the area. Several homes were in the path of the fire and a voluntary evacuation order was given, although residents in the area declined to evacuate. One home and two out buildings were lost as a result of the fast moving fire. Fire Officials estimate the fire burned 15 acres and was knocked down in under an hour with assistance from Cal Fire / Riverside County Firefighters and a Cal Fire water dropping helicopter. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters want to remind people with the significant rain fall over the winter months, there is a lot of dead and dry fuels out there. Remember to clear a defensible space around your home as Authorities anticipate an aggressive fire season.
On Sunday afternoon April 30, 2017 a fast moving brush fire broke out near the Riverside and Highgrove border. The fire quickly grew to 1,350-acres and was dubbed the “Opera Fire.” The Opera fire was reported around 3:45pm near Opera Loop and East Palmyrita Avenue in the Highgrove community. Per the Riverside County Fire Department, the fire quickly spread as the wind pushed the fire through the light, flashy fuels at a rapid rate. Initially no homes were threatened, but the fire moved rapidly toward homes as fire crews worked to defend roughly 40 of them. The fire was estimated at 25 percent containment as of late Sunday night. The first started after a man out for a hike drove his vehicle onto a dirt path surrounded by dry brush. LoudLabs News spoke to the man who said he was doing a u-turn on the trail when he noticed fire coming from under his vehicle. He attempted to put the fire out but was unsuccessful and suffered a burn to his leg in the process.
