A brush fire that erupted Thursday just north of San Jacinto blackened roughly five acres along the boundary of the San Bernardino National Forest before Cal Fire aircraft slowed its advance.
The blaze was reported just after 11 a.m. Thursday in the area of Gilman Hot Springs and Soboba roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving uphill at a moderate rate, not immediately threatening homes or other structures.
Three Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter based at Hemet-Ryan Airport less than 10 miles to the west were summoned and promptly initiated runs on the brusher, almost bringing the forward rate of spread to a halt by 11:40 a.m.
Firefighters were making steady progress digging tentative containment lines with the aid of the air crews, according to reports from the scene.
One firefighter reportedly suffered a knee injury while battling the flames.
There was no immediate word on what might have sparked the blaze.