Crews Battle 2 Brush Fires In Inland Empire

JURUPA VALLEY (CBSLA.com) – Firefighters scrambled to contain two brush fires that broke out in the Inland Empire communities of Jurupa Valley and Claremont Thursday evening.

A 20-acre wildland fire broke out in the area of the Jurupa Hills Country Club in the Riverside County community of Jurupa Valley.

The blaze was reported at 5:12 p.m. in the 6100 block of Moraga Avenue. The fire was being wind driven to the east towards the Santa Ana River bottom, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The fire also forced the Union Pacific Railroad to shut down its tracks. No evacuations were immediately issued, and no structures were threatened.

As of 9 p.m., it was 10 percent contained. 155 firefighters from several agencies, including Cal Fire, were on scene. Two helicopters were conducting water drops.

There was no word on a cause.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Fire Department crews also battled an eight-acre brush fire at the Rancho Santo Ana Botanic Garden off the 1500 block of North College Avenue in Claremont. That blaze was 80 percent contained as of 8:19 p.m. and its spread had been halted.

It didn't threaten any nearby homes or Claremont Colleges

"When I got here it was kind of blowing that direction but they seemed to get on top of it quickly," neighbor Katie Tucker said.

Officials said the two fires are a reminder for property owners to clear brush from around their homes as the summer season approaches with high temperatures, Santa Ana winds and low humidity.

"It's always good to prepare," said David Dantic with LACFD. "No matter what time of the year it is, you always want to have the brush clearance because you don't want to have a fire, especially if you live in the foothill areas."