Firefighter Injured During Lake Mathews Controlled Burn

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Did you see smoke over Lake Mathews Monday? Over 105 acres of brush around Lake Mathews were burned Monday in a prescribed burn designed to destroy invasive brush and restore native habitat.

One firefighter was injured during the operation, according to Cal Fire.

Some motorists traveling area freeways did contact the California Highway Patrol when they spotted smoke columns from the controlled burn. A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter crew worked the scene to ensure no flames escaped boundaries established for the operation.

The burning began at 6 a.m. and was halted around 1:15 p.m. in the area of El Sobrante and Palm roads, less than a half-mile from the east end of the lake.

A Cal Fire crewman suffered a minor burn injury and was taken to a hospital as a precaution, officials said. He was expected to fully recover.

The controlled burn exercise was in coordination with Riverside County's Habitat Conservation Agency and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. All contributed to identifying and reducing brush during Monday's exercise.

A total of 289 acres were identified before the work began Monday, and no plans were yet released for burning the additional acreage.

Ultimately, the habitat restoration includes returning the land for the burrowing owl and the Stephens' kangaroo rat.

City News Service contributed to this report.