Brush Fire West Of Lake Elsinore 100% Contained

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Firefighters contained a brush fire Tuesday that erupted in the hills west of Lake Elsinore and blackened 27 acres.

The non-injury blaze was reported at about 1:50 p.m. Monday along South Main Divide Road, near the Ortega (74) Highway, within the Cleveland National Forest, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said 24 engine crews and four hand crews, numbering close to 200 personnel, were sent to the location and encountered flames in rugged terrain, prompting calls for air support.

Five Cal Fire air tankers and two helicopters were dispatched from Hemet-Ryan and San Bernardino International airports, and over the ensuing two hours, they made repeated runs on the fire.

The blaze was burning at a moderate rate and did not reach populated areas. By 6:30 p.m., some crews were being released from the fire, and by about 8:50 p.m., the fire was 100% contained.

Due to updated mapping, the department later downgraded the number of acres burned from nearly 50 to 27.

Along with county personnel, firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service assisted.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

—City News Service