Fast-growing California wildfires destroy homes, send residents scrambling for safety
Two large wildfires sparked in Riverside County, California, on Sunday, sending residents fleeing as flames quickly spread, destroying three homes and threatening more than 1,000 others.
Two large wildfires ignited in Riverside County, California, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, causing panic and destruction as they rapidly spread. The Hawarden Fire, which began south of downtown Riverside, west of the Moreno Valley Freeway, destroyed three homes and damaged four others in just a few hours. The fire forced evacuations, with the Riverside Police Department assisting residents in fleeing the danger zone.
During a news conference, Riverside Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve McKinster stated that about 1,500 homes were in the vicinity of the fire. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson urged residents to evacuate and announced that an evacuation center had been set up at the Orange Terrace Community Center. The City of Riverside Fire Department is still battling the uncontrolled Hawarden Fire, which has scorched 480 acres.
Adding to the crisis, another fire, the Eagle Fire, ignited in Riverside County on the same day, burning over 1,600 acres by Monday morning. The CAL Fire Riverside Unit is making progress, containing 50% of the Eagle Fire. However, the fire's rapid spread initially led to evacuations and warnings for multiple communities near Eagle Canyon Road, east of Corona.
The extreme heat and dry conditions in the West created a perfect storm for wildfires, with approximately 30 million people under heat alerts on Sunday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the region, with temperatures expected to soar above 105 degrees. The wildfires have also impacted air quality, leading to alerts for fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke. Residents are advised to stay indoors to protect their health.
During a news conference, Riverside Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve McKinster stated that about 1,500 homes were in the vicinity of the fire. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson urged residents to evacuate and announced that an evacuation center had been set up at the Orange Terrace Community Center. The City of Riverside Fire Department is still battling the uncontrolled Hawarden Fire, which has scorched 480 acres.
Adding to the crisis, another fire, the Eagle Fire, ignited in Riverside County on the same day, burning over 1,600 acres by Monday morning. The CAL Fire Riverside Unit is making progress, containing 50% of the Eagle Fire. However, the fire's rapid spread initially led to evacuations and warnings for multiple communities near Eagle Canyon Road, east of Corona.
The extreme heat and dry conditions in the West created a perfect storm for wildfires, with approximately 30 million people under heat alerts on Sunday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the region, with temperatures expected to soar above 105 degrees. The wildfires have also impacted air quality, leading to alerts for fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke. Residents are advised to stay indoors to protect their health.