A brush fire that broke out Friday just north of Homeland scorched roughly seven acres and briefly threatened homes before it was stopped.
The “Springs Fire” was reported at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Hodges Lane and Juniper Springs Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames burning at a moderate rate in the direction of several remote properties.
Two Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned from Hemet-Ryan Airport less than five miles away and immediately initiated runs on the brusher, preventing it from reaching the scattered residences.
By 3:20 p.m., the fire’s forward rate of spread had been stopped, and all aircraft departed the area.
There was a report of a resident on Juniper Springs suffering cardiac arrest during the activity. An ambulance transported the man, whose identity was not released, to a regional trauma center for treatment.
Crews were expected to remain on the fire lines, mopping up, until sundown Friday.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.