Fire engulfs several outdoor structures, abandoned vehicles in Riverside County's Mead Valley
MEAD VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A small brush fire in Mead Valley spread to several small outdoor structures and abandoned vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, engulfing them in flames amid scorching temperatures in Riverside County.
The so-called Rider Fire began in heavy vegetation about 12:45 p.m. in the 19900 block of Seaton Avenue, according to Cal Fire. The blaze quickly consumed five acres.
No injuries were reported.
Firefighters on the ground attacked the fire with hoses and bulldozers while aircraft dumped water and Phos-Check from overhead.
"We launch everything at once when we hear a report of a wildland fire," said CAL FIRE Capt. Richard Cordova. "So right from the get-go, we have engines; we have our aircraft flying over. In this incident, we had four aircraft, two air tankers and two helicopters. We kind of ... throw as much equipment as we can as possible. CALFIRE has even added additional aircraft to our fleet this year, adding additional helicopters, so that's helped us out tremendously."
The fire's forward rate of spread was stopped by 2 p.m., officials said. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Another fire broke out Tuesday afternoon just northeast of Lake Elsinore called the Snake Fire. Riverside County Fire Department crews worked to contain the blaze in the area of Lindell and Snake roads.
Tuesday marked the first day of a heat wave that is expected to blanket the region with triple-digit temperatures well into next week.
On Saturday, the Village Fire burned dangerously close to homes near Jurupa Valley before the flames marched up a nearby hillside. Firefighters knocked down the fire after it burned 35 acres.
On Monday, small brush fires broke out in Chatsworth, Sylmar and near the Grapevine.
The wildfires were fueled by the growth of high-standing brush that exploded throughout Southern California due to a wet winter and later dried out.
"We've been fortunate that the heavier fuels have taken advantage of that moisture we got over the winter," said Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department. "But the grass crops are still going to burn and we're going to see fires. If and when they do ignite, we know grass fires burn very rapidly.
"As we get into this heat wave and we get excessive days of heat, that crop is very receptive to burn."
The heat isn't just bad for fire danger, it can be bad for people's health as well.
"For those who are in their teens, their 20s, the 30s, the heat ... you may not feel quite as much. It might be easier for you to stay hydrated, to keep up on your fluids in order to cool down," said Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky with the Riverside University Health System. "But we really need to be careful for those who are older, those that are 65 and older, those who have underlying health conditions and for the babies and toddlers. They just don't cool down as quick."
Chevinsky said as much as we prefer a dry heat as compared to much more humid climates, it can actually be more dangerous simply because it's not as miserable.
"When you're talking about different climates, some areas are really humid and when it's humid, sometimes you feel the heat more, and you feel the discomfort, and it prompts you to drink and get out of the heat because you're uncomfortable, but in some areas like out in the desert, you get this dry heat, and it can sneak up on you," said Chevinsky.
