I-215 Brush Fire In Murrieta Closes Lanes For Hours

MURRIETA, CA — A brush fire Monday that started with a vehicle erupting into flames on southbound Interstate 215, north of Clinton Keith Road near the Murrieta/Menifee border, caused freeway lanes to close for much of the day and into the night.

The blaze was reported shortly after 1 p.m., with the vehicle burning on the southbound freeway shoulder and flames spreading to brush west of the interstate.

Crews were on scene battling from the ground and air, and the #2 and #3 southbound freeway lanes were closed. The fire's forward spread was stopped at 3 p.m. with 25 acres scorched, but crews remained on scene into the night.

As of 9 p.m., the #2 and #3 southbound freeway were still closed and traffic was backed up to Newport Road.

All lanes remained open on the northbound side of the freeway, but traffic was slow through the area.

According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, the blaze was fully contained at 9:30 p.m. Monday and crews remained on scene for another 30 minutes.

There were no immediate reports of injuries and no structures burned. The charred open space is a popular mountain biker destination that is slated for a housing tract development.