Hawarden and Eagle fires char 1,000 acres in Riverside County; structures burn, residents flee

A pair of fast-burning wildfires ignited Sunday in Riverside County, rapidly scorching about 1,000 acres of brush, causing evacuations and burning multiple structures.

South of downtown Riverside, the Hawarden fire had burned about 500 acres by around late afternoon, according to Steve McKinster, deputy chief of the Riverside Fire Department.

Video from the scene showed several homes burned and residents fleeing the area.

The fire broke out around 1 p.m., spread rapidly and spurred evacuations — "1,500 homes are surrounding the area," McKinster said at a news conference Sunday evening. Three structures were destroyed and four were damaged, he said, but no injuries were reported.

There were 50 engines battling the fire, and officials said the fight would continue into the night.

"It's a scary day here in Riverside," said Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. "It's going to be a very long night."

Riverside officials issued an evacuation order for areas around Eagle Crest Court, Chartwell Drive, Horace Street and Hawarden Drive. A receiving center was set up at the Orange Terrace Community Center, at 20010 Orange Terrace Parkway.

"There will be police patrols throughout the night in the evacuation zones and affected fire areas," fire officials announced at about 8:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Eagle fire erupted about 2:15 p.m. at Cajalco and Eagle Canyon roads, east of Corona. The fire spurred evacuation orders and warnings, according to Cal Fire. The fire burned out of control for several hours, blackening about 500 acres, according to Cal Fire.

About 175 personnel were battling the fire Sunday evening, with 28 engines and a water-dropping helicopter, according to the agency. But by about 9:30 p.m., forward progress of the fire was stopped and it was 25% contained. All evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings.

Smoke from the two fires led the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory through 2 p.m. Monday. Particle pollution levels near the fires ranged into the unhealthy range, the agency said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .