Sterling Incident
Incident Name: Sterling Incident
Date Reported: 11/27/2023
Time Reported: 1505 Hours
Incident Location: 11631 Sterling Ave, Riverside CA 92503
Ward #: Ward 6 Perry
Type of Incident: Explosion/Structure Fire
Incident Number: RIV #23-40413
Control Time: 11/27/2023 at 1545 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons:
Loss: $50,000
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Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 1
Engine Companies: 3
Truck Companies: 1
Squad(s): 1
Ambulance(s):
Firefighter(s): 17
Safety Officer(s):
Public Information Officer(s): 1
Fire Investigator(s): 2
Overhead Personnel:
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Red Cross:
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Current Situation
The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at an indoor shooting range. The initial call to 911 included a description of an unknown “explosion” inside the building. The first arriving engine company investigated and found no fire, but heavy damage to the inside of the building at the shooting lanes. Several fire sprinkler pipes were broken and flooding the inside of the building with water. Crews assisted with shutting down the water and mitigating the water problem. Fire Investigators, along with Riverside Police Department’s Technical Services Unit (TSU) performed an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion.
Video footage was obtained, and witnesses were interviewed. There had been 3 individuals using the shooting lanes at the time of the explosion. They reported seeing burning material fall from the ceiling and on to the shooting lane floor. The explosion occurred immediately after.
The cause of the explosion was determined to be accidental in nature. Insulation from the ceiling had fallen on a hanging, fluorescent light fixture. A piece of the insulation caught fire and fell to the shooting range floor where it reacted with residual gun powder on the concrete floor. An area of the concrete floor was heavily damaged and a steel structure hanging over the shooting lane had partially collapsed. The 3 civilians who had bee using the shooting range escaped with no injuries. The business has been closed until the building integrity can be evaluated by Building and Safety officials as well as Fire Prevention. There were no injuries to firefighters.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Fire Captain Bryan Hoffman
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Pat Hopkins
Date / Time Posted: 11/27/2023 1900
Information Center: 951.826.5321
