Fresno River burns in 2 fires, quickly quelled

DJ Becker/The Madera Tribune

Fire crews battled two grass fires in the same riverbed area of homeless encampments on Raymond Road near Avenue 16 on Monday.

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Fire crews battled two grass fires in the same riverbed area of homeless encampments on Raymond Road near Avenue 16 on Monday, one at 10 a.m. and another about 2 p.m. The plumes of heavy white smoke could be seen for miles.

Fire Chief Jim Forga said both fires were just outside the city limits, about three acres each and were rapidly contained, but had the potential to burn sheds, garages and even into houses if wind driven, or not stopped.

The cause of the fires is undetermined at this time and anyone with information on how the fires started is asked to come forward.