Roughly $10 million dollars in damage has been reported so far by a 527-acre brush fire in Riverside that has destroyed at least six homes and damaged seven others, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said Monday, July 22. She also confirmed that fireworks, set off illegally by unidentified suspects, caused the blaze.
The Hawarden fire began Sunday near Alessandro Heights and quickly spread through the area, expanding to over 500 acres, threatening 1,500 homes and forcing many residents to temporarily evacuate. As of Monday morning, all evacuation orders have been lifted, said Kaitlin Reierson, a city spokeswoman.
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So far, an estimated six homes gave been destroyed and seven others have been damaged, with possibly more impacted, Dawson said at a Monday evening news confernece.
Arson investigators determined the cause of the fire stemmed from the illegal use of fireworks. Video footage captured suspects fleeing the area and investigators have identified a “vehicle of interest,” Dawson said.
“This tragic events serves as a stark reminder of why fireworks are illegal in our community. We live in an area with dry brush, varied terrain and high temperatures, making it ideal for such disasters,” Dawson said.
The fire was 40 percent contained as of 7 p.m. on Monday.