A brush fire that erupted Monday along a dry canal beneath Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore scorched nearly three acres and approached several businesses before crews got it partially contained.
The non-injury “Diamond Fire” was reported just before 4 p.m. in the area of Diamond and Auto Center drives, 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 to heavy brush, mainly underneath the southbound side of the freeway.
A battalion chief requested that California Highway Patrol officers close one southbound lane because of heavy smoke drifting into traffic.
The flames approached a restaurant and other businesses in a strip mall but did not cause any damage to the outlets, according to reports from the scene.
As of 4:40 p.m., firefighters were making steady progress encircling the brusher, with full containment expected by 6 p.m.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.