A fire that broke out Thursday near a Jurupa Valley intersection charred forty acres after crossing a road, threatening multiple residences and homeless encampments, which were evacuated.
The blaze was reported at 2:20 p.m. along Van Buren Boulevard north of Jurupa Avenue near the Santa Ana River bottom, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Corona and Riverside Fire Departments, as well as Murrieta Fire & Rescue, were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through heavy vegetation.
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The fire jumped Van Buren from west to east, approaching transient camps and houses along Pedley Road.
Sheriff's deputies initiated evacuations of residences on Pedley, between 54th and 56th streets, as well as on Felspar Street at 56th, according to reports from the scene.
The homeless camps were also evacuated. There were no immediate reports of damage. A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter began making runs on the brusher about 3 p.m., slowing the fire's advance. There was no word on what might have sparked the blaze.
