Brush Fire Erupts at Lakeside Recreation Area

A brush fire that was possibly ignited by downed power lines broke out Wednesday near a lake on the south end of Calimesa, burning about an acre before crews got it partially contained.

The non-injury blaze was reported shortly before 1 p.m. in the vicinity of Fisherman’s Retreat, off of San Mateo Canyon Road and Entranz Boulevard, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Multiple engine crews and an inmate hand crew were sent to battle the fire, which a battalion chief described as slow-moving and concentrated in thick vegetation.

He said several power lines had collapsed at the site.

By 1:30 p.m., fire personnel were still working to dig containment lines completely around the brusher, according to reports from the scene.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock