Janice R. Andrews
RIVERSIDE, California: On Sunday, two sizable wildfires broke out in Riverside County, California, forcing locals to evacuate as the flames quickly spread, burning three houses and endangering over a thousand more.
Evacuations Due to Hawarden Fire Sparks
Around 1 p.m. on Sunday, a rapidly expanding vegetation fire to the west of the Moreno Valley Freeway and south of downtown Riverside broke out, forming the Hawarden Fire. At a press conference on Sunday, Steve McKinster, deputy chief of the Riverside Fire Department, reported that the fire had destroyed three residences and damaged four more. There are over 1,500 houses in the neighborhood, which is why there are evacuation orders. The residents were escorted out of the area with assistance from the Riverside Police Department.
The Orange Terrace Community site has been designated as an evacuation site, as verified by Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. “This is Riverside, and it’s a scary day,” she said on Sunday. The fire is 25% controlled and has burnt about 530 acres, according to the Riverside Fire Department.
Eagle Fire Is Still Spreading
In Riverside County, the Eagle Fire also began on Sunday. As of Monday morning, the CAL Fire Riverside Unit reports that the fire had burned over 1,700 acres and was 65% controlled. Authorities were compelled to issue evacuation orders for many areas near Eagle Canyon Road, east of Corona, due to the swiftly expanding fire. It is encouraged to be vigilant for updates since evacuation alerts are in effect for several more locations.
Concerns about Heat and Air Quality
The West has perfect conditions for wildfires to develop, with scorching temperatures and parched grasses making for hazardous wildfire weather. When the most recent flames in California broke out on Sunday, there were heat advisories in effect for around 30 million people in the West. With high temperatures expected to reach over 105 degrees, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside counties until Wednesday night.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an air quality alert for fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke due to the wildfires’ negative impact on the quality of the air in Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, and other nearby areas. It is recommended that residents stay inside as much as possible through Monday afternoon.
The situation is still unstable as firefighters keep battling the fires. To protect themselves, authorities advise locals to be informed and heed evacuation instructions.
