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Firefighters fully control on brush fire burning in riverbed near Jurupa Valley homes

Clay Fire burns dangerously close to homes in Jurupa Valley
Clay Fire burns dangerously close to homes in Jurupa Valley 01:19:39

Firefighters were able to gain the upper hand while battling a nearly 40-acre brush fire that is burning close to homes in Jurupa Valley last week.

The Clay Fire was first reported at around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday near Pedley Road and Van Buren Boulevard, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department crews. 

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The Clay Fire from SkyCal. KCAL News

Flames were burning at a slow rate of spread through heavy fuels in the Santa Ana Riverbed, according to firefighters. As of 7 p.m., firefighters said that the fire had consumed just over 38 acres. 

It is now 100% contained, according to Cal Fire officials on Saturday.

An evacuation warning was issued for residents living south of Limonite Avenue between Van Buren Boulevard and Beach Street for several hours, but those warnings have since been lifted.

Cal Fire Riverside Public Information Officer Maggie Cline De La Rosa said that Riverside city fire crews were also assisting with the firefight, and that personnel would remain on scene throughout the evening. 

She further noted that some of the engines that were attending to the fire were prepositioned due to the high winds battering most of Southern California. 

Crews have not yet disclosed a cause for the fire. 

With SkyCal overhead, at least one water-dropping helicopter could be seen while dozens of ground crew members worked below with chainsaws and bulldozers, effectively halting the flames in their tracks. 

This is the second fire to break out in the same area recently, after another blaze called the Clay Fire ignited last week. That fire was quickly contained by crews. 

"There's fires every week," said Tony Renteria, who lives nearby. "It was crazy. ... It's kinda scary, but we're okay. I mean, you just don't know what's gonna happen so you always gotta be prepared."

Crews will now work to determine how to clean the charred remains of the vegetation from the area in coming days. 

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