A fire that scorched about 60 acres southeast of Lake Mathews was 65% contained Wednesday.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Wood and Cajalco roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Dubbed the Wood Fire, the blaze started as a trash fire that extended into brush and spread across nearby hills before its spread was stopped.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Riverside Fire Department and Murrieta Fire & Rescue were sent to the location and encountered flames moving rapidly over a hill, in the vicinity of scattered homes.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher a short time later, according to reports from the scene.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday, the fire’s forward rate of spread was halted and the tankers departed the area, leaving the choppers to make targeted drops.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down several roads for public safety, including segments of Cajalco, Salter Road, Barton and Riders streets.
The area is lightly populated, but evacuation orders and warnings were issued for homes and agricultural operations in or immediately adjacent to the burn zone.
Several evacuation zones were downgraded or removed by 5:25 p.m. Tuesday once forward progress was stopped and crews had the blaze 25% contained.
All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
The California Highway Patrol initially fielded 911 calls regarding the blaze, which callers said started in a rubbish pile, possibly where a resident was trying to clear space, but the cause remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Crews utilized dirt roads and trails within the fire zone as natural fire breaks.
About 75 crew members remained at the scene Wednesday morning.
A precise estimate of when full containment would be achieved was not immediately available.