Two Large Wildfires Burning Across Riverside County as Crews Work Through the Night

Two major wildfires are burning across Riverside County Wednesday morning, forcing hundreds of residents from their homes, injuring five people, and keeping air and ground crews working overnight to get both blazes under control.

The Verona Fire, burning north of Homeland near Juniper Springs and Verona Roads, broke out around 12:20 Tuesday afternoon and has now scorched nearly 440 acres with zero percent containment as of Wednesday morning. The fire jumped control lines overnight and is burning at what Cal Fire is calling a critical rate of spread. Outbuildings and storage structures in the area have been destroyed, though the exact number has not been confirmed. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for properties south and east of Juniper Springs Road, and an evacuation warning has been issued for the Panorama Cove Mobile Home Park at 32600 Highway 74. Residents who need shelter can go to West Valley High School in Hemet, and an animal evacuation center is open at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter on South Grand Avenue.

The Bain Fire, burning in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley, is larger and slightly more controlled. It broke out Tuesday morning near Bain Street and Limonite Avenue, just north of the Hidden Valley Nature Center, and has now burned more than 1,370 acres. Cal Fire says it is now 25 percent contained, up from 10 percent overnight, as air and ground crews worked through the night building containment lines. Four people were hurt in connection with this fire, three from smoke inhalation and one with traumatic injuries, and all four were taken to Riverside Community Hospital. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for dozens of homes near Arlington and Western Avenues in Riverside, with additional warnings covering neighborhoods near Sandy Lane and Valley Drive. An evacuation reception center is open at the La Sierra Senior Center on La Sierra Avenue in Riverside. Power lines in the river bottom area were reported down but have since been de-energized for safety. It was not immediately clear how many customers lost electricity.

The causes of both fires remain under investigation.