A brush fire that erupted Tuesday in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa valley burned less than a quarter-acre of thick vegetation before a Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter made several drops that knocked down the brusher.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 4:20 p.m. in the area of Ridgeview and Limonite avenues, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Multiple engine crews from the county and city of Riverside were sent to the location, encountering flames deep in brush, propelled by light winds out of the southwest.
The helicopter reached the spot fire before firefighters could begin digging containment lines and effectively stopped it within a few minutes.
No homes or other structures were threatened.
Crews were mopping up by 5:15 p.m.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation.
Homeless encampments are spread throughout the river bottom, and cooking, warming and debris fires are common year-round.