Incident Name: Van Buren Incident
Date Reported: 02/24/2026Time Reported: 1251 Hours
Incident Location: Van Buren Bridge x/o Santa Ana River
Ward #: Ward 7 Hemenway
Type of Incident: Vegetation Fire
Incident Number: RIV #26-0007041
Control Time: 02/24/2026 at 1333 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons: 0
Loss:
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Cause:
Evacuations: 0
Evacuation Comments:
Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 3
Engine Companies: 6
Truck Companies:
Squad(s):
Ambulance(s):
Firefighter(s): 20
Safety Officer(s):
Public Information Officer(s):
Fire Investigator(s):
Overhead Personnel:
Mutual Aid:
Specialized Equipment:
EOC:
Utilities:
Red Cross:
Percent (%) Contained or Completed: 100
Total (%) of Perimeter that will be Contained: 100
Incident Size Acreage: .5
Current Situation
The City of Riverside Fire Department and the County of Riverside Fire Department responded to a reported vegetation fire located at the Van Buren bridge and the Santa Ana River. The first arriving engine company arrived on scene to find a working vegetation fire in the center of the river bottom approximately ¼ acre in size with a slow rate of spread. The fire was determined to be within the City of Riverside Fire Departments jurisdiction with no threats to infrastructure.
Battalion Chief Greg White established the Van Buren incident command in coordination with Riverside County Fire. Fire Crews made access to the fire from the Riverside County Animal Shelter deploying hose lines to control the fire. The fire was contained to a ½ acre of vegetation with the fire originating from a homeless encampment within the burned area. In total three Type 1 engine companies from the City of Riverside and three Type 1 engine companies from the County of Riverside brought the fire under control within 42 minutes of the reported start. Crews fully extinguished the fire with no reports of injuries or damage.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Battalion Chief Greg White
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Greg White
Date / Time Posted: 02/24/2026 1853
Information Center: 951.826.5321
