Incident Name: University Incident
Date Reported: 9/25/2026Time Reported: 0644 Hours
Incident Location: 1575 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92507
Ward #: Ward 2 Cervantes
Type of Incident: Structure Fire
Incident Number: RIV #26-035939
Control Time: 0930 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons:
Loss:
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Cause:
Evacuations:
Evacuation Comments:
Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 2
Engine Companies: 9
Truck Companies: 3
Squad(s): 1
Ambulance(s): 3
Firefighter(s): 52
Safety Officer(s): 2
Public Information Officer(s):
Fire Investigator(s): 2
Overhead Personnel: 2
Mutual Aid:
Specialized Equipment:
EOC: Notified
Utilities:
Red Cross:
Percent (%) Contained or Completed:
Total (%) of Perimeter that will be Contained:
Incident Size Acreage:
Current Situation
On Friday September 25, 2026, at 6:44 a.m., The City of Riverside Fire Department responded to 1575 University Ave to a vacant commercial building. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke conditions coming from the roof of the structure. The incident was upgraded to a total of four alarms due to the size and complexity of the structure and homeless people were exiting the structure and living around the structure.
Firefighters were hindered by the vacant structure being boarded up. Firefighters had to perform high density forcible entry to make entry into the building for fire suppression and conduct a primary search. No victims were in the structure. A dog was unharmed in the structure and Riverside County Animal Control assisted with the removal of the dog once the structure was safe to enter.
AMR assisted with three ambulances on standby. Fire Prevention responded to the incident to assist. The Fire Department’s Arson Investigators responded to the incident and investigated; the investigation is ongoing. City of Riverside Code Enforcement and Building Services responded to the incident to assist with the property owner for securing of the structure. The structure was Red Tagged by Code Enforcement.
RPD assisted with traffic control of University Ave which had to be closed for apparatus and the hydrant water supply line. University was closed between Cranford Ave and Chicago Ave. There were no civilian injuries and no firefighter injuries.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Date / Time Posted: 9/25/2026 1300
Information Center: 951.826.5321
