A brush fire that broke out Tuesday in the Badlands just east of Moreno Valley scorched three acres before it was stopped with a combination of ground and air crews.
The non-injury blaze was reported at about 3:20 p.m. in the area of Alessandro Boulevard and Gilman Springs Road, within open space, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving to the east, not threatening any residential properties.
The Badlands spans the roughly three miles between Moreno Valley and Beaumont and is marked by boulder-laden rolling hills, with few residences and no frontage roads adjacent to the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway, which courses through the area.
Crews deployed along the fire’s flanks and summoned several Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter based at nearby Hemet-Ryan Airport to make runs on the brusher, halting its advance just after 4 p.m., according to the fire department.
The fire was nearly 100% contained as of 4:30 p.m., officials said.
There was no immediate word on how it started.