A brush fire erupted Monday on the north end of Homeland, quickly charring three acres and forcing the closure of a road.
The non-injury “Juniper Fire” was reported at 5 p.m. in the area of Juniper Flats and Mapes roads, just north of Highway 74, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
According to the agency, crews encountered flames moving rapidly through medium vegetation to the east.
The fire reached Juniper Flats, causing spot fires across the two-lane road, which the California Highway Patrol immediately shut down from the highway going north.
Two Cal Fire air tankers from Hemet-Ryan Airport less than 10 miles away were summoned to make runs on the brusher.
A battalion chief at the scene said the blaze, if unchecked, could spread to 500 acres across open fields.
There was no immediate word regarding how the brusher started.