The once-fast-moving Bain fire, burning in Riverside and Jurupa Valley, was 34% contained by Wednesday as firefighters kept its size in check, authorities said.
The blaze, which has left four people injured and started in the area of Limonite Avenue and Bain Street in Jurupa Valley, was first reported about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and propelled by eastward winds that initially made conditions difficult for firefighters on the ground, Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr. with the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department said.
Firefighters were aided by aircraft throughout the night, and as of 8 p.m. Wednesday they had two helicopters and two water tenders assigned to the fire, along with 22 engines and four hand crews, totaling 100 firefighters in all, according to Cal Fire.
During an increase in winds between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., there were some flare ups, but units in place were able to stop them, Clingingsmith said.
“Even though the weather wasn’t ideal for us, we were planning on some of these changes and they were ready to respond to that,” he said.
The fire grew slightly to 1,456 acres by Wednesday afternoon, holding there into the evening.
There were no large flames on Wednesday, Clingingsmith said. Firefighters were seeking out hot spots to extinguish.
At least some evacuation orders and warnings for Jurupa Valley and Riverside remained in place late Wednesday afternoon.
There was damage to some structures, Clingingsmith said. Assessment teams were trying to determine the number, type and scope of that damage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced on Wednesday it is making money available to reimburse local firefighting agencies up to 75% for certain expenses such as field camps, equipment, materials and supplies.
Lyriq Vasquez, 18, a host at Benihana, was watering the fencing and bushes of his neighborhood in Jurupa Valley on Wednesday afternoon. It was about 92 degrees outside, and smoke was still rising from the dirt and brush across the street from his house.
“We had to rush,” Vasquez said, describing the evacuation with his mother Tuesday. “It seemed like the fire was right here. … I was in fight or flight.”
He grabbed his cat, Mia, and her kittens, but he could not find another cat. Luckily, his mother was able to grab that one.
“Hesitation and indecisiveness were just not what you could do,” he said. “That was not an option. We’re just really grateful it didn’t cause more damage.”
He added that firefighters used the hose from his house to help stop a fire that had encroached on the neighborhood.
Of the injured, three were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Clingingsmith did not have information on the circumstances.
For the latest on evacuations, go to fire.ca.gov/incidents
Verona fire
The Verona fire, burning in unincorporated Riverside County near Homeland and Hemet, expanded Wednesday to 600 acres but was 30% contained, a significant increase, according to Clingingsmith.
There were no large flames burning, Clingingsmith said. Firefighters were looking for hot spots to extinguish.
The blaze started north of Homeland early Tuesday afternoon, officials said. That day it destroyed outbuildings, threatened homes and prompted evacuations, including at the Four Seasons, a gated retirement community.
Increased wind conditions also affected the Verona fire, but crews were able to get it under control, Clingingsmith said.
“We had units in place and we expected the wind change,” Clingingsmith said.
The fire was first reported on a hillside around Juniper Springs and Juniper Flats roads north of Highway 74.
“Things are calming down, we’re hoping to get a bigger jump on these things in the coming days,” Clingingsmith said.
The cause of both fires was under investigation.
