A brush fire that erupted Friday on the east end of Anza charred 40 acres in an hour and prompted partial closure of a highway as the flames approached the San Bernardino National Forest.
The non-injury “Kirby Fire” was reported at 12:35 p.m. Friday in the area of Highway 371 and Kirby Road, in a field on the north side of Anza Electric Co-Op, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county and U.S. Forest Service were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate to the north in medium vegetation.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the brusher just after 1 p.m., attempting to keep the flames from jumping dirt and paved roads.
No homes or other structures were immediately threatened.
As of 1:30 p.m., the fire’s advance had slowed.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down the highway at Kirby for public safety, diverting traffic around via surface streets.
There were unconfirmed reports that the brusher may have started at the electric plant.
Temperatures in the Anza Valley were 110-112 degrees Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.