A pair of fast-burning wildfires ignited Sunday in Riverside County, rapidly scorching about 1,000 acres of brush, causing evacuations and burning multiple structures.
South of downtown Riverside, the Hawarden fire had burned about 500 acres by around late afternoon, according to Steve McKinster, deputy chief of the Riverside Fire Department.
Video from the scene showed several homes burned and residents fleeing the area.
The fire broke out around 1 p.m., spread rapidly and spurred evacuations — “1,500 homes are surrounding the area,” McKinster said at a news conference Sunday evening. Three structures were destroyed and four were damaged, he said, but no injuries were reported.
There were 50 engines battling the fire, and officials said the fight would continue into the night.
“It’s a scary day here in Riverside,” said Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. “It’s going to be a very long night.”
Riverside County officials issued an evacuation order for areas around Eagle Crest Court, Chartwell Drive, Horace Street and Hawarden Drive. A receiving center was set up at the Orange Terrace Community Center, at 20010 Orange Terrace Parkway.
Meanwhile, the Eagle fire burned out of control Sunday evening. The blaze erupted about 2:15 p.m. at Cajalco and Eagle Canyon roads, east of Corona, and by 5 p.m. had charred 450 acres, spurring evacuation orders and warnings, according to Cal Fire.
About 175 personnel were battling the fire Sunday evening, with 28 engines and a water-dropping helicopter, according to the agency.
The fire was 0% contained.
Fire threatens homes in Riverside on Sunday afternoon.
(OnScene.TV)
A receiving center was set up at Santiago High School, at 1395 E. Foothill Parkway in Corona. Cal Fire noted that animals could be taken to the Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, at 6851 Van Buren Blvd.
Smoke from the two fires led the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory through 2 p.m. Monday. Particle pollution levels near the fires ranged into the unhealthy range, the agency said.