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Fire season in full swing in the IE as multiple blazes burn
Auto thefts drop across Riverside County By City News Service
By Staff and City News Service
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number of wildfires burned acres in Riverside and San Bernardino counties last week, with two not yet fully contained as of Friday, according to Cal Fire. The Euclid Fire in Chino Hills burned 120 acres and was 40% contained after it was first reported around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday in the area of State Route 71 and Euclid Road, state fire officials said. “Crews made good progress overnight mopping up hot spots around the perimeter adding additional containment lines,” Cal Fire reported Friday morning. “The specialized felling crews will be working in the eucalyptus grove to remove more fire-damaged trees and ensure safety in the area. Firefighters will be working in the dense build up area and looking for any hot spots.” The fire caused the closure of Highway 71 in both directions, the Chino Valley Fire District reported. Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state were flying fire suppression missions in support of 158 total personnel, four crews, 22 engines and six water tenders, officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Another fire in San Bernardino charred 50 acres with 50% containment as of Wednesday, according to the most recent update available from Cal Fire. The Frontage Fire was first reported July 20 around 4:18 p.m. at E Street and Frontage Road. The Victorville Fire Department was fighting the blaze. The fire’s cause was under investigation. Brush fire northeast of Anza blackens 50 acres A brush fire that erupted Wednesday northeast of Anza scorched roughly 50 acres at
Flames from the Euclid Fire scorch terrain in the Chino Hills area. | Photo courtesy of Cal Fire San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit/ Facebook
the foot of the San Bernardino National Forest before it was stopped. The non-injury blaze was reported at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Bautista Canyon and Glasgow roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews from the county, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate across open space to the east, along the forest boundary. Four Cal Fire air tankers
and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher 20 minutes after it started, significantly slowing its advance. As of 4:30 p.m. the blaze’s forward rate of spread was halted, and crews were encircling the burn field at a brisk pace, according to officials at the scene. All aircraft departed the location by 4:45 p.m. A mandatory evacuation order that had been issued for the few scattered properties in the immediate vicinity of the fire was lifted about the same time. Officials said that a vacant structure, possibly an
outbuilding, was damaged in the first minutes of the fire. The cause of the blaze was under investigation. The area encompassing Anza and Aguanga, abutting the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, has been the point of origin for a cluster of minor and major fires over the last few years. One dead after big rig crash sparks fire near Mecca A big rig crash east of Mecca sparked a brush fire Tuesday and left at least one person dead. The crash was reported at 12:25 p.m. on eastbound I-10, east of the Cactus City rest stop, according to the California Highway Patrol. The agency said the semi truck was traveling in the No. 2 lane west of Frontage Road when it drifted onto the right shoulder, veered sharply left and lost control. The truck crossed into the center median, went down an embankment and overturned. The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, which spread into nearby vegetation, sparking a 10-by-10-foot brush fire, authorities said. Riverside County Fire Department crews arrived within 20 minutes and quickly contained the blaze, which was burning at a moderate rate through light brush. Fire crews remained on scene for mop-up operations. At least one fatality was reported at the scene. “No occupants have been found outside the semi-truck. The fire department discovered one body in the cab of the truck,” CHP Officer David Torres said. The victim’s identity was not been released. CHP officers shut down all westbound lanes of I-10 at Box Canyon Road around 1 p.m., about 2.5 miles west of Chiriaco Summit. A SigAlert See Fire season Page 23
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| Photo courtesy of the California Highway Patrol
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he number of automobile thefts throughout Riverside County plunged nearly 25% last year, while the county sheriff’s department ranked in the top five among agencies successfully recovering stolen vehicles statewide, according to statistics released Wednesday by the California Highway Patrol. The number of countywide auto thefts reported in 2024 totaled 7,648, compared with 10,109 the year before — a 24.34% drop, the CHP said. The decline dovetailed with downward trends across California, where the total theft count last year amounted to 176,230, compared with 202,936 in 2023, reflecting a roughly 13% drop, figures showed. It was the first statewide year-over-year decrease since 2019. “We are proud to see fewer vehicles being stolen across the state,” agency Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “The CHP and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to stop these crimes, protect California’s communities and hold criminals responsible.” Riverside County ranked No. 6 statewide for vehicle thefts last year. Los Angeles County was No. 1 at 57,987, according to CHP statistics. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department ranked No. 4 for theft recoveries
statewide, securing 3,343 cars, trucks and motorcycles that had been reported stolen, data showed. No other Inland Empire law enforcement agency fell into the top 10 for recoveries. Of the 7,648 vehicles reported stolen in all jurisdictions countywide in 2024, 6,509 were later recovered, though there was no mention in the CHP report regarding how many were damaged. The CHP said the majority of vehicles stolen in 2024 comprised SUVs and light pickup trucks, amounting to 43% of the total number of takings. Cars made up 39% of the sum, with commercial trucks and trailers, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, construction and farm equipment comprising the balance of thefts. In the category of pickups and SUVs, the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado was No. 1. Among cars, the 2015 Kia Optima was the top target of thieves, statistics indicated. “For the first time, 2024 ‘miscellaneous import’ ranked No. 1 as the most stolen motorcycle,” the CHP said. “Miscellaneous imports are non-specific makes imported from other countries. Honda model years 2022 and 2023 ranked Nos. 2 and 3.” The estimated composite value of the vehicles stolen in 2024 was $1.56 billion, according to the CHP.