Arson Suspected as Menifee 'Briggs Fire' Spreads to 86 Acres

Menifee, CA — A brush fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon just north of Menifee scorched roughly 86 acres along a rural road and left a firefighter injured.

The blaze was reported about 3:20 p.m. in rugged terrain near the intersection of Briggs and Louis roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

By 7 p.m., the fire was estimated to be 70 acres. At 10:50 p.m., it was considered 40 percent contained at 86 acres and the flames were no longer progressing, a department official said.

At around 9:30 p.m., fire officials indicated the fire may have been started intentionally, as arson investigators reached out to the public for help.

"CAL FIRE Arson Investigators are seeking the public’s help with any information regarding the Briggs Fire," the agency said in a press release. "Anyone with information is urged to call the Arson Hotline at (800) 633-2836. All calls are anonymous."

More than two dozen engine crews and six hand crews, numbering about 200 fire personnel, were battling the brusher. In the fire's first hours, six air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters were providing support, but they were wrapping up operations as night drew nearer.

There was no word on the nature of the firefighter's injuries, which were described as minor. He was taken to an inland trauma center for treatment, officials said.

Flames were largely concentrated in "steep, rocky terrain," according to the fire department. No homes or other structures were threatened.

Crews were expected to be on the fire lines all night, but an update on the size and containment won't likely be available until Wednesday morning.

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— City News Service contributed to this report. Top image credit: Captain Lucas Spelman.