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Jurupa Valley fire crews battled a brush fire in the Santa Ana River bottom Tuesday evening after having extinguished a blaze in a similar location last week.

The Clay fire was reported at 2 acres at 5 p.m. Tuesday and grew to 38 acres by 7 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department.

A total of 165 personnel from multiple agencies and a firefighting helicopter responded to the blaze and were able to halt its forward progress around 9 p.m., according to Cal Fire and Riverside fire officials. The fire was 45% contained as of Wednesday morning.

“Air resources have been released, and crews will remain on scene throughout the night and into the morning to conduct extensive mop-up operations,” the city of Riverside Fire Department said in an evening update.

Hand crews worked to contain the fire by removing dense vegetation and trees around its perimeter and dousing the area in water, said Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a spokesperson for the county fire department.

An evacuation warning was lifted for residents south of Limonite Avenue between Van Buren Boulevard and Beach Street at 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to the county fire department

Twenty-three engines and eight hand crews were set to remain on scene throughout Wednesday, fire officials said.

On Jan. 13, crews responded to a similar brush fire in the Santa Ana River bottom, an area where there are homeless encampments. That fire broke out around 5 p.m., burned 2 acres and was contained by 7 p.m.

The fires, each dubbed the Clay fire, were reported at Van Buren Avenue and Clay Street. Cline De La Rosa said this is the address often used to report fires in the riverbed but does not mean they are in the same location.

In addition, a third riverbed fire was reported about six miles downriver on Jan. 14. That incident, dubbed the Scout fire, burned 2.6 acres near 4785 Scout Lane and was determined to be a result of arson.

“The City of Riverside Fire Department’s arson investigator conducted an inquiry and determined the fire was deliberately set, originating near a homeless encampment,” the department said in a report on the blaze.

The cause of Tuesday evening’s fire is currently unknown.

Both Clay fires ignited while the region was under a red flag warning due to gusty Santa Ana winds and critically low humidity levels.

A wildfire that broke out in Riverside County grew to nearly 40 acres by Tuesday night, triggering evacuation warnings that have since been lifted.

The fire, named the Clay Fire, burned 38 acres and was 45% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to a Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson.

Forward progress of the fire was stopped by Tuesday night, according to a Cal Fire incident report.

It was one of several fires that ignited Tuesday, including the 85-acre Lilac Fire in San Diego County.

Parts of Southern California, including Riverside County valleys and mountains, are under a red flag warning through Thursday evening due to strong winds and “very low” relative humidity, meaning that fires that break out in the regions under the warning can spread rapidly, according to the National Weather Service San Diego.

More:Idyllwild and Cabazon impacted by Public Safety Power Shutoffs as high winds continue

Here’s an overview of the Clay Fire as of Wednesday morning.

Where is the Clay Fire?

The Clay Fire broke out at the Santa Ana River bottom near Pedley Road and Van Buren Boulevard in Jurupa Valley, according to Cal Fire. Jurupa Valley is in Riverside County’s northwest region and neighbors the city of Riverside. Jurupa Valley is about a 20-mile drive, route dependent, from San Bernardino, according to Google Maps. According to a Cal Fire incident update, approximately a third of the acres burned is within Riverside.

When did the Clay Fire begin?

Firefighters were on scene at a vegetation fire reported at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Jurupa Valley, according to Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department’s post on X. The fire was “in heavy fuels and burning at a slow rate of spread.”

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.

The Clay Fire in Riverside County, near Los Angeles, has ignited on Tuesday evening, growing to nearly 40 acres and prompting evacuation warnings.

Why It Matters

The Clay Fire is the latest fire to erupt as Southern California has been inundated with deadly wildfires in January.

The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire grew to be the largest, leading to numerous evacuation orders and destroying thousands of structures. Air quality is also a growing concern for residents as the containment of these fires continues.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, have faced fierce criticism in the aftermath of the wildfires as some residents have pointed to potential water issues contributing to the situation.

What To Know

In an update by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on Tuesday at 6:49 p.m. PT, the Clay Fire is burning near Pedley Road and Van Buren Boulevard, in Jurupa Valley.

The fire is 38 acres and is currently zero percent contained, CAL Fire says. The cause of the fire is also under investigation. An evacuation warning has been issued for these zones, CAL Fire says: JUR-0177, JUR-0178, JUR-0179, JUR-0181.

Below is a map of the impacted area:

Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire is currently 65 percent contained as of 6:32 p.m. PT on Tuesday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, CAL Fire notes. The fire is over 23,000 acres in size and impacted the communities of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica, and Brentwood.

Read more Wildfires

The Eaton Fire which impacted the communities of Pasadena and Altadena is currently 89 percent contained, as of a 6:41 p.m. PT update by CAL Fire. The fire grew to over 14,000 acres and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Portions of Southern California near Los Angeles remain under a red flag warning as Santa Ana winds continue to blow. The National Weather Service Los Angeles (NWS) noted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that the area has "significant fire weather conditions" amid severely dry environments and the raging winds.

Newsweek reached out to the NWS via email on Tuesday night for comment.

Below is a photo from CAL Fire of multiple wildfires in Southern California:

What People Are Saying

The Riverside County Fire Department said on X on Tuesday: "#ClayIC [UPDATE]: The fire is 38 acres. The fire continues to burn in heavy vegetation. There is now an evacuation WARNING for the following zones: RVC-177, RVC-178, RVC-179, RVC-181. South of Limonite Avenue, East of Beach Street, West of Van Buren."

The NWS Los Angeles in a post on X on Tuesday: Significant fire weather conditions are ongoing into Thursday with an increase in winds expected (especially Thurs AM) and severely dry conditions. For wildfire preparedness guidance visit https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/."

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a post on X on Tuesday: "We are working proactively to protect firestorm-affected communities from potential landslides and flooding.

Firefighting crews right now are filling sandbags to be placed in impacted areas to protect communities in the event of winter storms."

What Happens Next

The NWS says the red flag warning will expire on Thursday evening.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Immigrant advocacy organizations are calling out President Donald Trump, saying the executive orders he signed on immigration and the border target the immigrant community.

The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice held what they called an "inauguration demonstration" Tuesday morning in Riverside, condemning Trump's orders.

Among executive orders signed by Trump is one ending birthright citizenship. The order directed federal agencies -- starting next month -- to stop issuing citizenship documents to U.S.-born children of undocumented mothers or mothers in the country on temporary visas, if the father is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

"I think this gives fear in our community that might prevent [immigrants] from trying to apply for immigration benefits," said Emilio Amaya with the San Bernardino Community Service Center.

Now, it faces legal challenges.

California joined 17 other states in suing Trump over this order. The lawsuit, filed by 18 Democratic attorneys general, accuses Trump of seeking to eliminate a "well-established and longstanding Constitutional principle" by executive fiat.

"The President has no authority to rewrite or nullify a constitutional amendment or duly enacted statute. Nor is he empowered by any other source of law to limit who receives United States citizenship at birth," the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, about 150,000 children born each year to two parents who were noncitizens and lacked legal status could lose access to basic health care, foster care, and early interventions for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities.

"They will all be deportable, and many will be stateless," the lawsuit said.

The states warned the executive order would also cause them to lose federal funding for programs that render services to children regardless of their immigration status.

While Trump's order purports to unilaterally end birthright citizenship, only the U.S. Supreme Court can determine how the 14th Amendment applies.

"President Trump's attempt to unilaterally end birthright citizenship is a flagrant violation of our Constitution," said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin at a press conference Tuesday. "For more than 150 years, our country has followed the same basic rule: babies who are born in this country are American citizens.

"He's entitled to enact a policy that he sees fit for the country," but "this is an extreme and unprecedented act," Platkin said. ""This isn't just an attack on the law. It's an attack on the very fabric of this nation."

"Presidents in this country have broad power. But they are not kings," said Platklin.

"The great promise of our nation is that everyone born here is a citizen of the United States, able to achieve the American dream," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "This fundamental right to birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment and born from the ashes of slavery, is a cornerstone of our nation's commitment to justice."

"We are ready to take on the challenges of a second Trump administration to ensure that in California our progress will continue, and that our progress will prevail," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

The states are seeking to invalidate Trump's executive order and stop any actions taken to implement it. Their lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction to immediately prevent the order from taking effect.

Later Tuesday, four additional filed a similar suit, asking a federal court to keep the executive order from being implemented or enforced.

Nonprofit groups in Massachusetts and New Hampshire also filed federal lawsuits challenging the executive order on Monday.

ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report.

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Riverside residents pay more for home insurance than homeowners in many other California cities, though residents in Los Angeles and San Francisco pay higher rates. The average Riverside homeowner pays $2,023 per year for $300,000 in dwelling coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Allstate, Armed Forces Insurance Exchange, and First American Insurance provide the cheapest coverage in Riverside, but the ideal insurer for you will depend on your unique circumstances.

Here’s what to consider when shopping for home insurance in Riverside so you can secure the most affordable rate.

Quick Facts

Best home insurance companies in Riverside

Many reliable home insurance companies serve Riverside. The best home insurance company for you will depend on your situation and needs.

Here, you can see how some of the top insurers in the area stack up against one another.

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

Overview

Allstate reigns as the cheapest home insurance company in Riverside, barely edging out Armed Forces Insurance Exchange for that distinction. As one of the nation’s largest insurers, you can also rest assured of Allstate’s stability.

Pros and cons

Armed Forces Insurance Exchange caters to activity-duty military members, military veterans, and U.S. Department of Defense employees. That means nearly 117,000 veterans are eligible in Riverside.^[1] Combine them with active-duty military members stationed at March Air Reserve Base, and plenty of area residents could benefit from coverage from Armed Forces Insurance Exchange.

Pros

Cons

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

Overview

Unlike some home insurers, Pacific Specialty enables homeowners to purchase earthquake and flood insurance to supplement traditional coverage. For homeowners in Riverside County, this matters because the threat of earthquakes and floods looms over the region, potentially leading to enormous financial losses for homeowners and business owners.

Pros and cons

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Overview

With high ratings in the App Store and Google Play Store, Mercury’s mobile app appeals to many policyholders. The app offers positives such as paying your bill, monitoring claims, and contacting your agent quickly.

Pros and cons

Cheapest home insurance in Riverside

Allstate offers the cheapest home insurance in Riverside. Its average annual premium stands at $858 for $300,000 in dwelling coverage. Here, you can see the average annual rates that other top companies offer in the area.

Cost of homeowners insurance in Riverside

The average home insurance customer in Riverside pays $1,940 per year for a $300,000 policy with a $1,000 deductible. But several factors will determine the rate you’ll pay in Riverside, including:^[2]

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Not surprisingly, the cost of homeowners insurance rises as the amount of coverage rises. In California, the average annual premium ranges from $930 for $100,000 in coverage to $2,644 for $500,000 in coverage. You can get a rough idea of how much your home insurance will cost by multiplying the total square footage of your home by local per-square-foot construction costs.

Here, you can see how average annual premiums differ based on dwelling coverage limits in California.

The average annual home insurance premium with a $500 deductible is $2,023 in Riverside. But when the deductible climbs to $1,000, the average premium dips to $1,940.

This is because you’re taking on more of the risk yourself up front, and raising your deductible might lower your premium by as much as 25% in some cases.

How to get cheap homeowners insurance in Riverside

If you’re concerned about the cost of homeowners insurance in Riverside, you can take several steps to lower your premium, including:^[3]

Homeowners insurance rates differ from one city or ZIP code to another, based on several factors. For example, the average home insurance premium for a policy with a $1,000 deductible is $1,940 in Riverside, but the same policy is $1,488 in San Diego.

Here are some possible reasons for the rate difference:

Here, you can see how the average annual premium in several other California cities compares to what you’ll pay in Riverside. All rates are for policies with a $1,000 deductible.

How much homeowners insurance do you need in Riverside?

State laws don’t require that you buy home insurance. But if you take out a mortgage on your home, your lender will generally require you to buy coverage.

Before you purchase a home insurance policy, be sure you understand what it covers and ensure that the coverage meets your needs. For instance, make sure your policy offers enough coverage if you must rebuild your home if a fire were to destroy it.

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Some of the biggest risks of owning a home in Riverside include:

Riverside homeowners insurance FAQs

If you still have questions about how to find the most affordable home insurance in Riverside, consult the additional information below.

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John Egan

John Egan is a freelance writer and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His specialties include personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. John’s work has been published by outlets such as CreditCard.com, Bankrate, Forbes Advisor, Experian, Capital One, The Balance and U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing.

John has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.

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Edited byChris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content

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