A brush fire that erupted on the north end of Anza at the foot of the San Bernardino National Forest was declared 100% contained Friday evening after burning 32 acres.
The non-injury “Howard Fire” was reported at 12:12 p.m. Thursday in the area of Howard and Old Ranch roads, two miles north of Highway 371, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Multiple engine and hand crews from Riverside County, the U.S. Forest Service and Hemet Fire Department were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate to the north with multiple structures threatened, officials said.
At the height of the blaze, a total of 122 firefighters were at the location, supported by four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters, which made a series of runs that significantly slowed the fire’s progress, enabling crews to begin digging containment lines.
The flames damaged two single-wide trailers, two cars and one outbuilding, but no one was displaced by the fire, officials said.
The fire’s forward rate of spread was stopped at 2:15 p.m. Thursday and all air tankers returned to their bases. The choppers departed the area by nightfall Thursday.
Fire personnel continued working to tighten up gaps and strengthen containment lines through the overnight hours, with containment increasing to 60% by 8 a.m. Friday.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.