2 teens arrested for allegedly starting Hawarden Fire with illegal fireworks

Riverside police arrested two teens this week for allegedly lighting illegal fireworks that started the Hawarden Fire, which destroyed several homes and damaged many others two months ago.

Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said authorities filed charges against another minor. 

"This fire was caused by an illegal use of fireworks," Dawson said. "Again, all fireworks are illegal in the city of Riverside for a reason."

Arson investigators said surveillance video shows the suspects lighting the illegal fireworks in an open field before leaving in a silver pickup truck. The investigation led officers to the teens's homes, where they seized electronic devices. The city's police chief said the teens could face dozens of criminal charges. 

"Today, 27 charges of willful and malicious firesetting were filed against these juveniles," Riverside Police Department Chief Larry Gonzalez said. 

Gonzalez said the fireworks were classified as "dangerous" under California law. 

"These are not fireworks that could be obtained legally," he said. 

They did not release the identities of the minors because of their age. Two of the teens have been booked into a juvenile detention facility. 

The wildfire occurred on July 21, southwest of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park. Amid 100-degree temperatures, firefighters spent the next eight days fully containing the wind-driven inferno. Units continue to patrol the area, according to Riverside Fire Department Chief Michael Moore. 

When the smoke cleared, the Hawarden Fire burned about 600 acres, caused about $28 million of damage, destroyed seven homes and damaged 18 more. Moore estimated that his department spent about $1.5 million to extinguish the fire.