JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. (KTLA) — Firefighters were busy Friday trying to fully contain a brush fire that burned dangerously close to homes in Jurupa Valley.
The 311-acre blaze is now 60 percent contained.
Firefighters expect to have the fire fully contained by 8 p.m. Saturday.
All mandatory evacuations have been lifted, and power has been restored to all affected Riverside residents, fire officials said.
One structure and one out building have been damaged.
No injuries have been reported.
The fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. Thursday near Rio Road and Calle Hermosa at the south end of Rancho Jurupa Park, fire officials said.
It quickly spread along the Santa Ana River bottom, with flames up to 30 feet high consuming palm trees and thick patches of brush.
At one point, the flames came dangerously close to homes, prompting evacuations and leaving nearly 2,000 residents without power.
Authorities have not confirmed what started the fire. Power lines were down, but it was unclear whether they had sparked the blaze.
About a quarter-mile from the fire, another blaze erupted on Thursday not far from the evacuation center.
Fire officials believe a flying ember caused a nearby mobile home to go up in flames.
Residents armed with fire hoses jumped into action and put out the propane tanks that had caught fire.
“The top tank blew, which ignited the house. The second tank blew — that’s when the fire department told me to get out of the way,” resident Elmer Garlock said.
“But I kept watering the house,” he said. “[The homeowner's] son was in the back of the house as I was in the front yard watering the front side.”
The mobile home was a complete loss, but no injuries were reported as a result of the blaze.
8 Comments to “Jurupa Valley Fire Burns 300 Acres, 60% Contained”
February 28, 2013 at 6:30 PM
They are reporting that this started a 4:45pm? I attend RIverside City College and was seeing smoke when I was standing at the parking structure at Magnolia and the Tennis courts near 15th street. That was at 3:45pm not 4:45pm I wondered why I didn'[t hear sirens. – gigi .
February 28, 2013 at 6:41 PM
A decent header was showing at approx 4:45 from El Cerrito and the 15 so it did start earlier than 4:45 – perhaps 4:45 was the first time it was actually reported to emergency personnel? but that sure would have been a long time for someone to see it….
February 28, 2013 at 6:39 PM
some reports are stating they are investingating the fire as PWF – playing with fire.
February 28, 2013 at 8:49 PM
most brush fires are arson
February 28, 2013 at 10:35 PM
I am alittle scared bcuz it isvery close to where i live and i hope and pray for everyone that has to live by it.
March 2, 2013 at 1:02 AM
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