2 Brush Fires Break Out East Of Temecula In Anza

ANZA, CA — Two non-injury brush fires erupted Thursday in Anza, but crews moved swiftly and got a handle on both.

The first charred 8 acres and was reported at 12:50 p.m. in the area of Cary and Tripp Flats roads, just north of Highway 371 and within two miles of the Cahuilla Indian Casino, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

An air tanker, a helicopter, more than 30 engine crews and six hand crews — numbering over 100 personnel — encountered flames moving east at a moderate to rapid rate in high grass, according to the agency.

A house along Cary Road was in the path of the flames, but firefighters established a protective line that spared the property from damage, according to reports from the scene.

The aircraft made runs on the blaze, suppressing the head of it until the forward rate of spread was stopped about 2:25 p.m. Firefighters were making steady progress encircling the brusher shortly before 3 p.m.

Sheriff's deputies closed access to Cary for public safety and were standing by for possible evacuations, which ultimately were not necessary.

The Tripp fire was fully contained at 3 p.m., but crews were expected to remain on scene for several hours, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

The second brush fire broke out a mile southeast of the Tripp incident and burned about 2 acres before it was contained.

Dubbed the Ayers fire, the blaze was reported about 3:20 p.m. in the area of Ayers Way and Howard Road, just north of Highway 371, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

More than 50 personnel were sent to the location and quickly established containment lines between the highway and one of the roads. A Cal Fire air tanker was called in to make runs on the blaze and departed after a few minutes. The fire was encircled by 4 p.m.

No homes or other structures were threatened.

The blaze was close enough to the Tripp fire that many of the resources from that blaze were transferred over.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.