Fires Under Investigation: Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A wildfire that erupted in the hills just west of Lake Elsinore scorched roughly four acres and was fully contained Thursday morning.

The non-injury blaze was reported just before 4 p.m. Wednesday due west of Rose Street, north of Ortega (74) Highway, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said 24 engine crews and three hand crews, numbering over 150 personnel, were sent to the location and encountered flames burning upslope, away from homes but close to the highway.

Two Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned to make drops on the blaze, halting its forward rate of spread and permitting crews to begin establishing containment lines.

No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported.

The fire burned 3.68 acres and was fully contained at 5:48 p.m. Wednesday, the department said.

California Highway Patrol officers directed motorists along the roadway to keep moving after several vehicles pulled to the side of the two-lane corridor so its occupants could watch the fire.

Along with county fire personnel, crews from the U.S. Forest Service were on hand.

Another fire erupted in a eucalyptus grove on the northeast edge of Lake Elsinore and charred 3 acres and before it was fully contained.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Red Gum Drive and Eucalyptus Avenue, just east of Interstate 15, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said 14 engine crews and a truck company were sent to the brusher and encountered flames burning at a moderate rate through open space. The flames did not reach homes in the vicinity.

Sheriff's deputies shut down Red Gum for public safety.

Several Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters were called in to make runs on the blaze, blunting its progress.

About 1:10 p.m., firefighters stopped the fire's forward rate of spread and quickly encircled it. Firefighters fully contained the blaze at 5 p.m., the department said.

The causes of both fires was under investigation.