A brush fire that broke out Tuesday alongside Interstate 215 in Menifee burned about an acre and prompted a partial closure of the freeway until it was stopped.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 4 p.m. Tuesday adjacent to southbound I-215 at Newport Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames burning next to the exit ramp, causing heavy smoke to lay across the freeway.
California Highway Patrol officers, at the request of firefighters, shut down all southbound lanes, mainly due to significantly reduced visibility.
A Sigalert was issued at 4:30 p.m. due to snarled traffic conditions that led some motorists to attempt to make U-turns on the freeway and use shoulder space to exit.
The fire was contained at 5 p.m., and one southbound lane was reopened to get traffic moving again, according to the CHP.
All southbound lanes were expected to be available by 5:30 p.m.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.