A brush fire erupted Friday in the hills on the east end of Moreno Valley, scorching roughly five acres and approaching homes, prompting precautionary evacuation warnings.
The non-injury blaze was reported at about 10 a.m. in the area of Lantz Lane and Ironwood Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames initially moving at a slow rate through medium brush, though winds picked up within a short period, pushing the fire faster in the direction of a few residences.
A Cal Fire air tanker and water-dropping helicopter were summoned to make runs on the brusher.
Though there was no imminent danger, officials issued an evacuation warning for a few scattered properties north of Ironwood, south of Locust Avenue, east of Trust Way and west of Moreno Beach Drive.
There was no immediate word on what might have triggered the blaze.