Sycamore Incident
Incident Name: Sycamore Incident
Date Reported: 7/19/2024
Time Reported: 0653 Hours
Incident Location: 520 Central Ave, Riverside, CA 92507
Ward #: Ward 2 Cervantes
Type of Incident: Vegetation Fire
Incident Number: RIV #24-024715
Control Time: 7/19/2024 at 1146 Hours
Fatalities:
Critical:
Moderate:
Minor:
Non Injury:
Displaced Persons:
Loss:
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Cause:
Evacuations:
Evacuation Comments:
Resources Assigned
Chief Officer(s): 1
Engine Companies: 6
Truck Companies:
Squad(s):
Ambulance(s):
Firefighter(s): 19
Safety Officer(s):
Public Information Officer(s):
Fire Investigator(s): 2
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: .6
Current Situation
The City of Riverside Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a vegetation fire located within the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. Firefighters arrived to discover several vegetation fires burning within proximity located in the middle of Sycamore Canyon to the West of the Ralphs Distribution Warehouse. Due to the remote location, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm vegetation fire which included two four-wheel drive patrol vehicles and a four-wheel drive brush truck.
Firefighters hiked into the area of the fire burning in heavy annual grasses and located at a minimum five fires burning. RPD, Air One and Arson Investigators were requested to the incident. A fire captain located an adult male that admitted to starting the fires. Firefighters developed a plan using the patrols and a brush truck to make access into the area to extinguish the fires without destroying natural habitat.
Arson Investigators and RPD arrived on scene and detained the suspect. The suspect was taken to the RPD station and booked on five felony arson counts with full admission from the suspect.
Firefighters worked for several hours to extinguish and overhaul the five fires. Just over a half-acre of vegetation was burned. There were no firefighters or civilian injuries and no damage to equipment. A total of one chief officer and 23 firefighters responded to the incident.
Assisting Aid Agencies
Incident Commander: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Prepared By: Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst
Date / Time Posted: 7/19/2024 at 1250 Hours
Information Center: 951.826.5321
