Riverside: Firefighters halt forward progress of 3-alarm vegetation fire caused by off-road vehicle

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Monday, November 22, 2021
Riverside: Off-road vehicle ignites 3-alarm brush fire amid gusty wind
An off-road vehicle ignited a 16-acre vegetation fire in Riverside amid windy conditions that had already prompted a red flag warning, fire officials said.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- An off-road vehicle ignited a three-alarm vegetation fire Sunday morning in Riverside amid windy conditions that had already prompted a red flag warning, fire officials said.

The blaze was reported about 11:30 a.m. near Jurupa Avenue and Tyler Street, an intersection at the northwest corner of the Arlanza residential neighborhood, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Fueled by mulch, gusty winds and dry conditions, the flames quickly spread to 16 acres as firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene.

An evacuation order was issued for the area of Chadbourne Avenue and Valley Drive, where structures were threatened, Battalion Chief Jeff DeLaurie said.

No injuries or damage to homes were reported.

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Horses in the area were endangered by the fire, and fire officials worked with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to assist with the evacuation of two horses.

Shortly before 3 p.m., the Fire Department announced that the fire's forward progress was stopped.

"FYI, fire crews will be working throughout the night overhauling the fire and protecting homes," the agency said on Twitter. "Stay safe."

Details of how the vehicle sparked the fire were not immediately available.