A fire that erupted Wednesday in an avocado grove west of Temecula charred nearly three acres before it was stopped by Cal Fire air crews.
The non-injury blaze was reported just before noon Wednesday in the area of El Calamar and Carancho roads, in the unincorporated community of De Luz, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a slow rate downhill through the grove, in the immediate vicinity of a house.
Three Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the blaze at 12:25 p.m., blunting its progress. The forward rate of spread was halted at 1 p.m.
No structures were damaged, and no road closures were required.
Firefighters were gradually encircling the blaze early Wednesday afternoon. Full containment was expected by 4 p.m.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.