Fire in Santa Ana River Bottom Stopped After Burning Nearly an Acre
A brush fire that erupted Thursday along the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley amid Santa Ana winds burned just under an acre before it was stopped.
The non-injury Clay Fire was reported at 11:33 a.m. near the intersection of Clay Street and General Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate to the south, fanned by Santa Ana winds gusting to 20 mph.
No homes or other structures were threatened.
The vegetation was not dense, and firefighters quickly established a line around the brusher, stopping its forward rate of spread at 12:02 p.m., according to reports from the scene.
Cal Fire aircraft were initially requested but were canceled before they left Hemet-Ryan Airport.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation. The river bottom is rife with homeless encampments, and cooking, warming and debris fires are frequent year-round.
