Riverside Firefighter Hospitalized After Battling Pallet Blaze

Firefighter suffered medical emergency while fighting commercial building fire.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A Riverside firefighter was hospitalized after experiencing a medical emergency while battling a pallet fire behind a commercial building in the city's Jurupa Avenue area early Sunday morning. The blaze caused an estimated $720,000 in damage to materials, but crews were able to prevent further extension into the adjacent commercial structure.

Why it matters

Firefighter injuries are a serious concern, as they put first responders at risk while protecting the community. This incident highlights the dangers firefighters face when responding to commercial structure fires, which can quickly escalate and pose threats to both property and personnel.

The details

Firefighters were called to the 6900 block of Jurupa Avenue around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and encountered a significant fire in an exterior storage area with immediate exposure threats to nearby commercial buildings. More than 20 firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze by 9:10 a.m., containing the flames to the pallets and construction materials. While the exterior of the building was damaged from the fire's radiant heat, crews were able to prevent further extension into the structure.

  • The fire was reported just after 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 9:10 a.m. the same morning.

The players

Riverside Fire Department

The municipal fire department responsible for responding to and extinguishing the pallet fire in Riverside, California.

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What they’re saying

“Upon arrival, crews encountered significant fire in an exterior storage area with immediate exposure threats to adjacent commercial buildings. Firefighters initiated an aggressive fire attack.”

— Riverside Fire Department (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Riverside Fire Department.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the risks firefighters face when responding to commercial structure fires, which can quickly escalate and threaten both property and personnel. The Riverside Fire Department's swift response and containment of the blaze prevented further damage, though the hospitalization of a firefighter highlights the need for continued vigilance and safety measures to protect first responders.