A brush fire that broke out Monday southeast of Hemet scorched 16 acres before it was completely contained.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 11:17 a.m. Monday in the area of Sage and Intrepid roads, in the unincorporated community of Sage, 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 through medium brush in the sparsely populated area.
Three Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the brusher within 15 minutes of it being reported. The air drops significantly slowed the fire’s advance, enabling crews to get ahead of the flames, preventing them from damaging an outbuilding.
Sage Road was closed between Red Mountain and Voyager roads for public safety.
The brusher’s forward rate of spread was stopped at 11:55 a.m., and it was fully contained about 90 minutes later, according to reports from the scene.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.