Overview
- The Verona Fire began near Verona Road and Juniper Springs Road and grew quickly on May 19, with official estimates rising from a few acres to several hundred acres as crews responded.
- Cal Fire and Riverside County authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for multiple zone codes and set up a human shelter at West Valley High School and an animal shelter at San Jacinto Animal Shelter.
- Firefighters established defensive perimeters and used air tankers and helicopters to slow the spread, but the blaze jumped control lines and consumed outbuildings according to on-scene reports.
- At least one firefighter was hospitalized with minor injuries and roads near Juniper Flats were closed while crews from county, tribal and local departments worked through the evening.
- The Verona Fire occurred the same day as other large Riverside County blazes, stretching regional resources and underscoring the fast-moving risk of wind-driven spring brush fires.