A brush fire erupted on Friday afternoon, October 18, in the Santa Ana River bottom along the border between Riverside and Jurupa Valley. The fire, fueled by Santa Ana winds, burned nearly 20 acres before being contained by Cal Fire crews.
Reported at 4 p.m. along Mission Boulevard, just north of Mount Rubidoux, the “Mission Fire” quickly spread from Jurupa Valley into Riverside city limits. Crews from Riverside County Fire Department and local agencies responded swiftly, facing flames propelled by winds of 10 to 20 mph.
By 4:45 p.m., two Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters had slowed the fire’s progress, allowing ground crews to establish containment lines. Initially thought to be 40 acres, the fire’s size was revised to about 20 acres after air surveillance.
Fortunately, no homes or structures were threatened, although the fire did come close to a nearby solar power farm near Tequesquite Avenue. Firefighters successfully prevented the blaze from reaching the facility, and no evacuations were necessary.
While the exact cause remains unknown, it was the second fire in the area that day, with the first being quickly contained at one acre. The river bottom, known for its homeless encampments, frequently experiences fires linked to cooking, warming, and debris activities.