A brush fire erupted Tuesday northwest of Lake Elsinore, burning six acres and threatening a ranch.
The non-injury blaze was reported about 2:25 p.m. in the area of Snake and Lindell roads, near Walker Canyon, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium brush.
Three Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters began making runs on the brusher before firefighters deployed, slowing its advance.
The area is sparsely populated. However, a ranch property was in the path of the flames, and officials at the scene said two to three dozen horses were running back and forth across the fire lines in a state of confusion.
Department of Animal Services officers were requested to assist with corralling the horses.
An evacuation warning was pending.
There was no word on what might have triggered the blaze.