5th Street Incident

Final Update:

On Friday, April 11, 2025, at 3:15 a.m., The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to a first alarm structure fire assignment to the 2200 Block of 5th Street for several calls received of a structure fire.  Firefighters arrived on scene to find a two-story residential home well involved in fire with the residence next door as an immediate exposure threat.  The incident was upgraded to a second alarm.

Firefighters performed fire suppression along with protecting the exposure.  The homeowner, an adult male was at home asleep at the time of the incident.  The homeowner was able to escape the fire on his own and upon our arrival attempting to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.  Firefighters were able to rescue his dog from the residence.  The on-duty arson investigator, AMR, an additional engine company and breathing support, responded to the incident.

AMR assessed the homeowner and transported the patient to a local area hospital along with his dog.  Firefighters contained the fire to the residential house and the residence next door received no damage.  The investigator investigated, and the cause was undetermined after investigation. 

A board up company requested to the incident to secure the property. 

There were no firefighter injuries.

UPDATE 1

The 5th Street Incident Commander is reporting the fire knocked down. Investigator 9 is currently investigating the cause of the fire, while on scene crews are performing salvage and overhaul procedures.

INITIAL REPORT

The City of Riverside Fire Department is currently on scene of a residential structure fire in the 2200 block of 5th Street. Initial reports indicated that the sole occupant of the home may still have been inside at the time of the incident.

Upon arrival, the first-in engine company reported a working structure fire. Fire crews initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and search operations. During the search, firefighters successfully rescued a dog from inside the residence. The occupant of the home was located outside the residence. The occupant was treated on scene by firefighters for minor injuries before being transported by AMR to a local hospital for further evaluation.

No firefighter injuries have been reported. A primary search of the residence has been completed, and crews remain actively engaged in fire suppression efforts. Station move-ups have been implemented to maintain city-wide coverage.

Battalion 1, Chief Vanderhorst, is serving as the Incident Commander for the 5th Street incident. The estimated commitment time for assigned resources is approximately three hours.