A brush fire that erupted Thursday north of Highway 371 in Anza quickly scorched five acres and threatened a home as crews worked to contain it, relying on the aid of Cal Fire aircraft.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 12:50 p.m. in the area of Cary and Tripp Flats roads, within two miles of the Cahuilla Indian Casino, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
More than a dozen engine crews and four hand crews, numbering close to 100 personnel, encountered flames moving east at a moderate rate into high grass.
A house along Cary 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.
Other properties were in the vicinity but not immediately threatened.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned to make runs on the blaze.
Sheriff’s deputies closed access to Cary for public safety and were standing by for possible evacuations, which had not been implemented as of 1:45 p.m.
There was no word on what might have triggered the fire.