Fireworks presumably triggered harmful Hawarden fireplace in Riverside, authorities say

Arson investigators with the Riverside Fire Department on Monday, July 22, had been trying into stories that the 527-acre Hawarden brush fireplace that destroyed three properties on Sunday was ignited by juveniles enjoying with fireworks, Deputy Chief Steve McKinster mentioned at a morning information convention.

“It’s below investigation,” McKinster mentioned. “Not confirmed.”

Residents of Riverside’s Hawarden Hills — with two-story homes, many with swimming pools, and about 1,500 folks — had been returning after evacuations had been lifted from a hearth that additionally broken a minimum of 4 properties.

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A firefighter hoses down scorching spots at Noel Piri’s house, which was destroyed by the Hawarden fireplace together with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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The division had 21 fireplace engines and two hand crews, totaling about 80 firefighters, again on the traces Monday to place out scorching spots. The unfold of the hearth was stopped, McKinster mentioned. The climate circumstances — scorching and dry with winds — had been anticipated to be the identical as Sunday when firefighters chased the flames.

“Sad to see the home was gone,’ house owner says in wake of the Hawarden fireplace

A crew was out to evaluate the injury on Monday.

The fireplace was reported at 1:05 p.m. in an space bordered by Alessandro Boulevard, Overlook Parkway and Victoria Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to search out the flames spreading quickly uphill, McKinster mentioned. Water-dropping helicopters had been instantly requested, he mentioned, however he didn’t know when the primary arrived. At one level, firefighters informed dispatchers that they’d not reply to burning bushes except they had been close to properties.

Randwick Road resident Noel Piri mentioned he referred to as the Fire Department as flames neared his house, however nobody instantly confirmed up. Several calls later, firefighters arrived, however by then the home was ablaze, Piri mentioned.

“We had been taking the stories as they got here in and dispatching assets to the places as we had the provision,” McKinster mentioned. “The fireplace unfold was speedy, so getting assets into that space quick sufficient proved difficult as a result of the hearth was shifting sooner than we might catch as much as initially.”