A brush fire that broke out Tuesday south of Highway 371 in Anza charred almost 200 acres before it was stopped.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday near the Cahuilla Casino Hotel at Highway 371 and Homestead Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county and surrounding agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate to the southeast.
A total of five tankers and four water-dropping helicopters made a series of runs on the brusher, though several tankers were ultimately diverted to a separate brusher burning in San Bernardino County.
The aircraft operations prevented the flames from reaching scattered properties that were briefly threatened, and at 3:45 p.m., the fire’s forward rate of spread was halted, with about one-third of the brusher encircled, according to reports from the scene.
All fixed-wing aircraft and two choppers immediately departed, leaving two helicopters to make targeted drops on hot spots. Full containment of the blaze was anticipated during the overnight hours.
Sheriff’s deputies enforced traffic control measures to contend with observers parking on roadsides to watch the aircraft at work, but no roads were completely closed.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. The area has been plagued by re-occurring summertime fires for years.