Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said during a Monday press conference that the Hawarden Fire was started by the use of illegal fireworks.
“Our Arson Task Force has been relentless in investigating the cause of the fire, and it’s now been determined that the official cause was sparked by fireworks,” she said. “C footage has shown suspects fleeing the area, and we also have a vehicle of interest that’s being reviewed by investigators.”
As of Monday evening, the fire had burned a total of 527 acres, destroyed six homes and damaged seven others, according to the Riverside Fire Department which also reported that one firefighter and one civilian had sustained minor injuries as a result of the blaze.
“In just over 24 hours, a moment of fireworks has an estimated cost of over $11 million, and the losses are not just financial,” Lock Dawson said. “Families have lost their homes, cherished memories and personal belongings. The damage extends beyond property impacting the emotional and mental well being of the affected residents and the community at large.
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The fire was first reported at about 1 p.m. Sunday and forced the evacuation of more than 2,500 people living in the surrounding area as the fire rapidly spread throughout the afternoon. At the height of the blaze, there were 50 firefighting units, two tankers and one helicopter working to contain the fire.
By Monday morning, fire crews had managed to contain the fire within the established perimeter and all evacuation orders had been lifted as crews continued to extinguish the remaining hotspots. By the evening, all mutual aid fire crews had been released back to their respective agencies.
“This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of why fireworks are illegal in our community,” Lock Dawson said. “We live in an area with dry brush, varied terrain and high temperatures, making it ideal for such disasters.”
The use of fireworks is illegal in both the city of Riverside as well as Riverside County.
Lock Dawson urged anyone with information to report it by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477, stating that those responsible would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
A full recording of the press conference can be found here on the city’s YouTube channel.
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