Brush fire in Riverside County triggers evacuations, damages at least one home

The Yearling fire was reported in the 8500 block of Yearling Way in Pedley around 4 p.m. and grew to about 34 acres in about an hour. The fire was 25% contained as of 7 p.m.

Riverside County Fire Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr. said 110 fire personnel were battling the blaze, using 30 engines, four hand crews, two dozers and one water tender truck.

Two people were taken to an area hospital for possible smoke inhalation and a third was treated at the scene. No structures have been destroyed, but one resident told The Times that his home was damaged in the fire.

The area from Van Buren Boulevard and Jurupa Road east to Stone Avenue toward Stone Elementary School and south to Paisano Way and Limonita Avenue is under mandatory evacuation orders.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Clingingsmith said.

A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said a person was detained in connection with the fire but was released after investigators determined they were not involved.

Jurupa Valley resident Paul Rojas said his home was damaged but is still standing thanks to fast-acting work from fire personnel and friends.

“It was Cal Fire, Corona Fire and my three neighbors who fought the fire with our hoses,” said Rojas, who has lived in the area for over a decade.

Rojas was returning home around 4:30 p.m. after picking up his daughters from their schools when he noticed parts of his home and property were on fire.

Although he saved his home and work studio, he said he lost a power washer, an emergency backup generator, a water tank and a log splitter gifted by his father, who died in 2017.

He said he ran to save a trailer that was ablaze and even caught fire himself before firefighters doused him and the vehicle.

Rojas said he also saved his vintage 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

“We went through seven fire extinguishers but we saved the car, which was on a lift,” he said. “My fence was damaged too, but I was able to stay and fight the fires thanks to a respirator I had.”