Riverside Fire Department

Spruce Incident



Fire incident Banner

Incident Name: Spruce Incident

Date Reported: 6/05/2021

Time Reported: 1629 Hours

Incident Location: Spruce X Valencia Hill, Riverside, CA 92507

Ward #: Ward 2 Melendrez

Type of Incident: Vegetation Fire

Incident Number: RIV #21-017115

Control Time: 6/05/2021 at 1800 Hours

Fatalities:

Critical:

Moderate:

Minor:

Non Injury:

Displaced Persons:

Loss: $100,000

Save: $6,000,000

Cause:

  • Cause undetermined after investigation
  • Evacuations: 15 residential houses

    Evacuation Comments: Evacuated for three hours



    Resources Assigned


    Chief Officer(s): 5

    Engine Companies: 20

    Truck Companies: 1

    Squad(s):

    Ambulance(s):

    Firefighter(s): 100

    Safety Officer(s): 1

    Public Information Officer(s): 1

    Fire Investigator(s): 1

    Overhead Personnel: 3

    Mutual Aid:

  • Mutual Aid Received
  • Specialized Equipment:

    EOC: Yes Notified

    Utilities:

    Red Cross: No

    Percent (%) Contained or Completed: 100

    Total (%) of Perimeter that will be Contained:

    Incident Size Acreage: 12 Acres


    Current Situation


    (Recent updates are posted at the top of the Current Situation)

    On Saturday June 5, 2021 at 4:29 p.m., The City of Riverside Fire Department responded a first alarm vegetation fire assignment to the area of Valencia Hill X Massachusetts Ave for reports of a vegetation fire on the hillside with numerous calls received at dispatch.  The Chief Officer responding to the incident observed a developed fire column being pushed by the Off-Shore Winds into the Box Springs Preserve.  The Chief Officer immediately requested a total of 4 alarms from the City of Riverside, a CAL-Fire State response due to the State Response Area within the Box Springs Preserve and a CAL-Fire Agency Representative for Aircraft Request. 

    The first due engine company and Chief Officer arrived to find a 6-acre wind driven vegetation fire burning on the hillside with an immediate structure threat to 15 residential houses and a total of 40 structures within the threat zone.  The fire quickly grew to a total of 12-acres due to the wind and topography.  The fire burned into a property of approximately 4-acres with heavy mulch piles.  Structure Protection Group was set-up for Mt. Vernon and approximately 15 residential houses were evacuated by RPD.  Mt. Vernon was closed from Blaine Street North to the dead end. 

    No structures were damaged by the fire and three structures were coated with retardant from the aircraft.  There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

    During the fire an unknown citizen put a remote-control drone into air to survey the fire as Helicopter 301 was landing.  Engine 4 Engineer witnessed the event and immediately had UCR PD made contact with the drone pilot and land the drone.  This event could of cause all aircraft to be pulled off of the incident until the airspace is cleared. 

    The fire originated on private open land space.  The fire was investigated by a shift arson investigator and determined the fire originated from an area of individuals gathering and not a homeless camp.  The fire cause was undetermined after investigation and there were no witnesses. 

    CAL-Fire assisted with four air tankers, two helicopters, air attack, two dozers, two hand crews, three chief officers and eight engine companies. 

    Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night overhauling the mulch piles and will remain on scene throughout today overhauling the mulch piles and washing the retardant off-of the affected buildings.  The incident remains active. 

    The City of Riverside Fire Department wants to remind the public that if you fly your drone, we can't fly aircraft on the incident.  “If you fly, we can’t fly”.

    CAL-Fire PSA:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=069w2Cf5eUQ


    Assisting Aid Agencies


  • CAL-Fire
  • RPD

  • Incident Commander: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst

    Prepared By: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst

    Date / Time Posted: 6/6/2021 0700

    Information Center: 951.237.6310