LAKE ELSINORE (CNS) – A brush fire that erupted today northwest of Lake Elsinore burned 30 acres and threatened a ranch before crews got it partially contained.
The blaze was reported at about 2:25 p.m. in the area of Snake and Lindell roads, near Walker Canyon, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium brush.
Three Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters began making runs on the brusher before firefighters deployed, keeping it away from the ranch that was in the path of the flames.
An evacuation warning had been imminent but was not activated.
As of 6:50 p.m., the brusher was 40% contained. The air tankers were released at 4:55 p.m., with only the helicopters in orbit.
One firefighter suffered an unspecified non-life-threatening injury and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.
Officials said that in the first two hours of the fire, two to three dozen horses were running back and forth across containment lines in a state of confusion. Department of Animal Services officers assisted with corralling the equines.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
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