A wildfire triggered by mowing equipment scorched roughly five acres and briefly threatened homes Wednesday south of Riverside before it was contained.
A property owner whose house was in the path of the blaze suffered smoke inhalation but did not require hospitalization, authorities said.
The fire was reported at 1:20 p.m. in the area of Mockingbird Canyon Road and Van Buren Boulevard, just beyond the southern edge of the Riverside city limits, in the unincorporated community of Woodcrest, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
A dozen engine crews and two hand crews from the county and city — numbering about 80 personnel — encountered flames burning at a moderate rate on a hillside, within a few hundred yards of several homes.
Two Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned to the location and made runs on the brusher, preventing it from advancing closer to the properties, none of which were damaged.
By 2:30 p.m., the fire’s forward rate of spread had been stopped, and three hours after that, it was completely contained, according to county officials.
An investigation revealed that a mower clearing dry brush flung sparks and ignited the vegetation, officials said.
“While residents are well-intended to do the right thing the right way, without proper information and safety tips, the right thing can go the wrong way when it comes to clearing brush on hot, dry days,” according to a fire department statement.
The agency advised residents and contractors to check information pertinent to mowing and other outdoor work during Wildfire Season, which generally runs to November. Cal Fire provides guidelines at www.readyforwildfire.org.