Firefighters in Riverside County are working urgently to control the Clay Fire, which ignited on Tuesday evening in the Santa Ana river bottom and rapidly expanded to almost 40 acres. The fire, driven by dense vegetation, is now posing a risk to nearby buildings as teams ramp up their efforts to manage its spread.

Firefighters in Riverside County are actively trying to contain a clay fire that ignited Tuesday evening in the Santa Ana River area.

Origin and Expansion of the Clay Fire
The incident, referred to as the Clay Fire, was first reported around 5 p.m. at the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street in Jurupa Valley. Initially classified as a two-acre vegetation fire, it gradually spread into dense brush, increasing in size to nearly 40 acres, as noted by Cal Fire.

Clay Fire’s Threat to Nearby Properties
In its initial phase, the fire did not pose a threat to structures but burned close to homes and was visible from the City of Riverside. However, as it progressed westward, several buildings downwind began to be at risk, according to the wildfire tracking platform Watch Duty.

Firefighting Efforts
Cal Fire personnel on the scene have requested substantial reinforcements, including at least 10 additional fire engines, bulldozers, and a helicopter for nighttime water drops. Ground crews are focused on establishing containment lines as they work to control the blaze.

Current Situation
At this time, no evacuation orders or alerts have been issued. Nevertheless, authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation as it develops.

This story is ongoing, and updates will be shared as new information arises.

On January 13, emergency crews responded to a similar brush fire in the Santa Ana River bottom, an area that houses homeless encampments. This fire started at 5 p.m., scorched 2 acres, and was brought under control by 7 p.m.

Both incidents have been referred to as the Clay fire and were reported at the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and Clay Street. Cline De La Rosa noted that while this address is commonly used for reporting fires in the riverbed, it does not indicate that the fires occurred in the exact same spot.

The cause of the fire on Tuesday evening remains unknown.

Both fires ignited while the area was experiencing red flag warnings due to strong Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity levels.

Firefighters are working to control a brush fire that has spread across nearly 40 acres and is threatening homes in Jurupa Valley.

The Clay Fire was initially reported around 5:15 p.m. near the intersection of Pedley Road and Van Buren Boulevard, as stated by crews from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

Firefighters reported that flames were spreading slowly through dense fuels in the Santa Ana Riverbed. By 7 p.m., the fire had burned slightly more than 38 acres.

An evacuation warning has been issued for residents south of Limonite Avenue, between Van Buren Boulevard and Beach Street.

Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a Public Information Officer for Cal Fire Riverside, stated that fire crews from the city of Riverside were also aiding in the firefighting efforts, and that personnel would stay on site throughout the evening.