Firefighters Battle 75-Acre Brush Fire In Thermal

THERMAL, CA — Firefighters Sunday were battling a brush fire that burned approximately 75 acres in Thermal and prompted the closure of Highway 86.

The fire was reported around 2:40 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Avenue 72 and Buchanan Street, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

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Responding firefighters reported the fire burning in heavy fuels at a dangerous rate of spread and additional engines were requested.

At the initial time of report, the fire was burning 40 acres, but had grown to 75 acres just before 5 p.m., when the forward progress was also stopped.

The California Highway Patrol issued a sigalert for the closure of both directions of Highway 86 near 66th Avenue.

No injuries were immediately reported.

The cause of the fire was unknown.