Arson investigators with the Riverside Fire Department on Monday, July 22, were looking into reports that the 527-acre Hawarden brush fire that destroyed three homes on Sunday was ignited by juveniles playing with fireworks, Deputy Chief Steve McKinster said at a morning news conference.
“It’s under investigation,” McKinster said. “Not confirmed.”
Residents of Riverside’s Hawarden Hills — with two-story houses, many with pools, and about 1,500 people — were returning after evacuations were lifted from a fire that also damaged at least four homes.
A firefighter hoses down hot spots at Noel Piri’s home, which was destroyed by the Hawarden fire along with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Homeowner Noel Piri stands in his backyard as the sun sets as firefighters hose down hot spots on his home during the about 500 acres Hawarden fire in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters battle a fire on Apostle Lane during the Hawarden fire, which burned homes and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters hose down hot spots at Noel Piri’s home, that was destroyed by the Hawarden fire, along with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Homeowner Noel Piri’s view from his backyard as the sun sets during the Hawarden fire in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down hot spots in Noel Piri’s backyard after the Hawarden fire destroyed his home along with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Homeowner Noel Piri stands in his backyard after his home was gutted by the Hawarden fire, which burned homes and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters hose down a home on Apostle Lane from the Hawarden fire that burned homes and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters hose down a home on fire on Apostle Lane from the Hawarden fire, which burned homes and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Firefighters hose down a home on Apostle Lane from the Hawarden fire, which burnt homes and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down hot spots on Noel Piri’s home which was destroyed by the Hawarden fire and about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A firefighter hoses down the garage of Noel Piri’s home, which was destroyed by the Hawarden fire along with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Hawarden fire in Riverside is threatening 1,500 homes and had already consumed some structures. (Photo via OC Hawk)
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A firefighter hoses down hot spots at Noel Piri’s home, which was destroyed by the Hawarden fire along with about 500 acres in Riverside on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The department had 21 fire engines and two hand crews, totaling about 80 firefighters, back on the lines Monday to put out hot spots. The spread of the fire was stopped, McKinster said. The weather conditions — hot and dry with winds — were expected to be the same as Sunday when firefighters chased the flames.
A crew was out to assess the damage on Monday.
The fire was reported at 1:05 p.m. in an area bordered by Alessandro Boulevard, Trautwein Road, Overlook Parkway and Victoria Avenue.
Firefighters arrived to find the flames spreading rapidly uphill, McKinster said. Water-dropping helicopters were immediately requested, he said, but he did not know when the first arrived. At one point, firefighters told dispatchers that they would not respond to burning trees unless they were near homes.
Randwick Road resident Noel Piri said he called the Fire Department as flames neared his home, but no one immediately showed up. Several calls later, firefighters arrived, but by then the house was ablaze, Piri said.
“We were taking the reports as they came in and dispatching resources to the locations as we had the availability,” McKinster said. “The fire spread was rapid, so getting resources into that area fast enough proved challenging because the fire was moving faster than we could catch up to initially.”
Riverside Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve McKinster provides an update on the Hawarden fire on July 22, 2024. McKinster said the flames moved faster than firefighters could put them out, destroying three homes and damaging at least four others on July 21. (Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
He added that they would have had a chance to save the homes only if they had 50 engines immediately on the scene.
One firefighter suffered a minor ankle injury, McKinster said. No civilians were reported injured.
