A brush fire that erupted Tuesday south of Highway 371 in Aguanga scorched 126 acres, destroying one structure, and 40% contained.
The “Crossing Fire” was reported at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Petes Crossing and Janell Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Hemet Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department and surrounding agencies were sent to the location, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate in light brush.
One Hemet firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was taken by ambulance to a regional trauma center for treatment. Temperatures in the Anza Valley Tuesday topped out in the low 90s.
One outbuilding in the fire’s path was destroyed, but no occupied properties were damaged or destroyed.
At the fire’s peak, five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the brusher as it pushed eastward. An evacuation order was issued for the dozen or fewer properties near Dove Drive and Gold Creek Lane.
The aircraft fire retardant and water drops had largely cut off the fire’s prospective fuel, enabling ground crews to establish tentative containment lines, relying on dirt roads to fortify defensive space, according to officials at the scene.
The fire’s rate of spread was halted at 5:02 p.m.
Minutes later, all fixed-wing aircraft departed the location. Several helicopters remained for targeted drops on hot spots threatening to jump containment lines.
Fire crews will remain on the fire overnight, hitting hotspots and working to improve control lines around the fire, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.