Fire Sends Smoke Into SWR From Lake Mathews Area

LAKE MATHEWS, CA — Firefighters battled another blaze in Riverside County on Friday which erupted in an open field just northwest of Lake Mathews and burned through an estimated 35 acres in just over an hour, the Riverside County Fire Department reports.

The non-injury "Sobrante Fire" was reported at 12:05 p.m. in the area of El Sobrante Road and La Sierra Avenue, according to fire officials.

"The first arriving engine company reported 5-10 acres of light vegetation burning at a moderate rate of spread," the fire department first reported. "There are no structures threatened or injuries reported."

By 12:48 p.m., the size estimate grew to 25 acres. However, by 1:15 p.m., the agency said the forward progress of spread was stopped at 35 acres.

Multiple engine crews were sent to the location, including two air tankers and two water tenders, reports show. With winds blowing less than 5 mph, firefighters were not contending with gust hazards as they worked their way around the brusher.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

— City News Service contributed to this report.