Fire In Banning Sends Smoke Into Pass Area

BANNING, CA — Firefighters are at the scene Saturday of a fire burning in Banning, the Riverside County Fire Department tells Patch. The blaze was first reported at 12:25 p.m. near the intersection of Apex Avenue and Ramsey Street.

Fire officials say three engines and a battalion chief have been sent to the brush fire, which is burning "at a moderate rate of spread in light, flashy fuels." As of 12:30 p.m., it was about a quarter-acre in size, but was sending smoke into the Banning and Beaumont areas.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.