A brush fire that erupted Monday just north of San Jacinto swept over hillsides, threatening homes and agricultural operations and prompting evacuations.
The non-injury blaze was reported just after 2 p.m. in the area of the Ramona Expressway and North Warren Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames burning along barren hillsides, propelled by southwesterly winds.
Several Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters from nearby Hemet-Ryan Airport were summoned to make runs on the brusher.
As the flames moved west, they approached a residential area abutted by dairy farms, leading fire personnel to implement mandatory evacuations in the neighborhood bounded by Cottonwood Avenue to the south, Upperline Avenue to the north, Beech Street to the west and Warren Road to the east.
An evacuation warning was issued to residents and agricultural operators within the area bounded by Cottonwood to the south, Esplanade Avenue to the north, Beech to the east and Warren to the west.
At 5:15 p.m., Warren was closed between the Expressway and Esplanade, with all north- and southbound traffic being diverted to the east, for public safety.
No containment figures were confirmed.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.