A brush fire erupted Tuesday in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley, burning in thick vegetation that posed difficulties for fire crews and scorching about a quarter-acre before they reached it.
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.
The agency said 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.
A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter was requested to make runs on the brusher.
No homes or other structures were immediately threatened.
As of 4:45 p.m., firefighters were making access to the blaze and trying to establish containment lines.
There was no immediate word on how it might have started. Homeless encampments are spread throughout the river bottom, and cooking, warming and debris fires are common year-round.