Riverside pallet yard fire forces evacuations as strong winds fuel flames

Riverside firefighters battled a large fire at a pallet yard on Monday afternoon, which quickly engulfed dozens of wooden pallets and spread to a field of vegetation as flames were fueled by strong winds and intense temperatures in the area. 

It was reported a little after 3 p.m. at a business in the 300 block of Main Street near Garner Road, between the 215 Freeway and the Santa Ana River bottom, according to Riverside Fire Department officials. By 4 p.m., the fire was upgraded to a 4-Alarm incident.

Crews arrived and found large flames spreading quickly through the property. They said that approximately 40 pallets were burned and at least two tractors were damaged. Firefighters also said that the propane fuel tanks on the tractors exploded in the fire. 

As the battle was ongoing, firefighters said that there were 20-mile-per-hour winds blowing at the time, intensifying their response and leading to evacuations for several businesses in the surrounding area.  At least two businesses have been damaged by the fire, crews said.

Firefighters said that the gusts of wind caused the flames to jump Main Street, where they extended into a soccer field and golf course, where it began to scorch vegetation. As of 7:30 p.m., firefighters said that the blaze had burned about 22 acres, including the pallet yard, the former AB Brown Soccer Facility and parts of the old Riverside Golf Course.

Just before 6 p.m., firefighters and city officials issued an evacuation order for people who were north of Garner Road, south of Bartlett Avenue, east of Main Street and west of Northside. 

Both Cal Fire/Riverside and San Bernardino County fire department crews were assisting with the incident. A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter was spotted dousing the flames as they burned through the field, as SkyCal was overhead. 

All four lanes of Main Street were closed by Riverside police to allow firefighters ample room to assess the blaze. 

Three firefighters suffered injuries while assisting with the incident, according to Riverside Fire officials. All three were said to be in stable condition at the latest. 

Crews were expected to remain on scene overnight to address hot spots and make sure the fire was completely contained.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.