80-Acre Brush Fire Prompts I-15 Closure

CORONA, CA — A brush fire south of Corona burned about 80 acres near Interstate 15 and Temescal Canyon Road Sunday before being contained this afternoon.

The blaze was reported at about 11 a.m. and spread from heavy brush to grass at a slow to moderate speed, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

More than 100 county firefighters, two air tankers and a helicopter crew were deployed, as well as a fire crew from Cleveland National Forest.

The fire was fully contained two hours later.

Earlier in the day, the flames were pushing toward the freeway where some fire crews were posted, according to the California Highway Patrol, prompting officers to initially block all northbound traffic and issue a Sigalert.

Motorists reported seeing the fire from Interstate 15 and some who were stuck in the gridlock turned the wrong way to exit the freeway, the CHP said.

The closure was later reduced to only the No. 2 and 3 lanes about a half-mile south of Temescal Canyon Road, leaving only one lane open.

The closure remained in place as firefighters mopped up.

No injuries or evacuations were reported and some downed power lines were the only infrastructure damage that occurred, fire officials said.

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--City News Service