A brush fire that erupted Friday in Mead Valley charred roughly 25 acres and threatened properties before it was stopped.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 2:57 p.m. Friday in the area of Rider and Day streets, roughly a mile west of Interstate 215, 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 to the north in light vegetation.
Southwest winds gusting to 15 mph propelled the brusher in the direction of several residences, and mandatory evacuation orders and warnings were issued for scattered homes between Day Street to the west and Decker Road to the east.
Two Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the blaze at 3:25 p.m., and by 4 p.m., the fire’s forward rate was halted. The air tankers immediately departed the area, leaving the choppers to make targeted drops on hot spots, though around 4:20 p.m., they also returned to Hemet-Ryan Airport, officials said.
No homes or other structures were damaged.
Shortly after 4 p.m., all of the evacuation orders were lifted, leaving only one evacuation warning in place for a small residential pocket south of Cajalco Road.
Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers implemented road closures in the immediate area for public safety.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.