Incident Name: Community Incident
Date Reported: 1/12/2026Time Reported: 1731 Hours
Incident Location: 4445 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92501
Ward #: Ward 1 Falcone
Type of Incident: Hazardous Materials
Incident Number: RIV #26-001574
Control Time: 1854 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons:
Loss:
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Cause:
Evacuations: ER Entrance
Evacuation Comments: 30 persons shelter in place
Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 2
Engine Companies: 3
Truck Companies: 1
Squad(s):
Ambulance(s):
Firefighter(s): 13
Safety Officer(s): 1
Public Information Officer(s):
Fire Investigator(s):
Overhead Personnel: 2
Mutual Aid:
Specialized Equipment:
EOC: On scene
Utilities:
Red Cross:
Percent (%) Contained or Completed:
Total (%) of Perimeter that will be Contained:
Incident Size Acreage:
Current Situation
On January 12, 2026, at 5:31 p.m., The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to Riverside Community Hospital along with the Hazardous Materials Team to the Emergency Room entrance for a report of a patient being dropped off at the hospital with Mercury spilled on the patient. The vehicle had left the scene. Riverside Community Hospital Staff isolated the patient into the Isolation Room and performed decontamination procedures.
The Fire Department arrived and closed 14th street between Brockton Ave and Market Street. The Emergency Room entrance was also closed, and the alternate emergency room entrance off Magnolia was utilized. The emergency room remained open during the incident. The Emergency Room Walk-In area was closed and patients in the lobby approximately 25 persons remained in the room as a precautionary measure.
The Hazardous Materials Team made entry into the Isolation Room and tested the patient and areas the patient encountered including the Emergency Walk-In lobby. No Mercury and no other Hazardous Materials were found. Battalion 1 Vanderhorst was the Community Incident Commander.
The Emergency Room entrance off 14th Street was and returned to normal status along with the Emergency Walk-In Lobby.
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.
The Riverside Police Department assisted with traffic control and were working hospital staff to locate the vehicle that had dropped off the patient.
The City of Riverside Emergency Office of Management (EOM) responded to the incident scene.
Riverside County Environmental Health was on standby. The Riverside Emergency Service Agency (REMSA) duty officer was notified along RIVCO EMD.
The incident was closed at 6:54 p.m.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Date / Time Posted: 1/12/2026 1936 Hours
Information Center: 951.826.5321