Rubidoux Incident
Incident Name: Rubidoux Incident
Date Reported: 7/4/2023
Time Reported: 2110 Hours
Incident Location: 5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92501
Ward #: Ward 1 Edwards
Type of Incident: Vegetation Fire
Incident Number: RIV #23-022186
Control Time: 7/5/2023 at 0713 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons:
Loss:
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Cause:
Evacuations:
Evacuation Comments:
Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 3
Engine Companies: 8
Truck Companies:
Squad(s):
Ambulance(s):
Firefighter(s): 42
Safety Officer(s):
Public Information Officer(s):
Fire Investigator(s):
Overhead Personnel: 3
Mutual Aid:
Specialized Equipment:
EOC:
Utilities:
Red Cross:
Percent (%) Contained or Completed: 100%
Total (%) of Perimeter that will be Contained: 100%
Incident Size Acreage: 16.7
Current Situation
The City of Riverside Fire Department staged pre-deployed a fire incident management team and department apparatus for the Mt. Rubidoux Fire Work Show on July 4th at 1800 hrs. Several fire department personnel, equipment and fire-prevention staff were on the mountain along with a pre-deployed filled water tank for a water resource. During the show several spot fires occurred on the west and east side of the mountain. Personnel were successful with extinguishing the spot fires from the falling mortars on the city side, east side of the mountain.
However, three large spot fires occurred on the river side of the mountain, the west side of the mountain. One spot fire was stopped by the pre-deployed personnel and held at a half-acre. However, the next two spot fires were in very steep rugged terrain with no vehicle access for our patrol vehicles to gain access to due to the asphalt curbing on the up road. Due to the very steep rugged terrain crews methodically placed in fire hose and prevented the fire from jumping the up road to proceed further up the mountain allowing for the fire to back burn down the hill and the two spot fires to merge. Crews then placed hose lines along the fires edge and conducted a controlled back-fire operation down to the bike path. The fire was developed to just over 16 acres with a total acreage burned at 16.7 acres.
The incident was concluded on the morning of July 5th at 0713 hrs.
There were no firefighter injuries and no civilian injuries to the firework team on the mountain.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Division Chief Jeff DeLaurie
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Date / Time Posted: 7/6/2023 1447 Hours
Information Center: 951.237.6310
