PHOTO GALLERY: Temecula Fire Visible for Miles, I-15 Traffic at a Standstill for Hours

• Scroll down for the full image gallery.

TEMECULA, CA- A brush fire that broke out alongside the I-15 in Temecula on Saturday sent a massive smoke plume throughout the Valley. 

The fire— which wasn't threatening any structures— erupted near the southbound Interstate 15, south of Temecula Parkway, at 11:40 a.m., according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Soon thereafter, smoke began to spread throughout the region.

What's more, the southbound side of the freeway was shutdown for several hours at Temecula Parkway, while the northbound side was partially closed. As of 10:30 p.m., the CHP reported two southbound lanes remained closed.

You can follow all of our fire coverage updates in our main story here.

Several Temecula Patch readers shared photos of the fire. You can see them in the photo gallery below. If YOU have images you'd like to share, email them to renee.schiavone@patch.com.