Smelling Smoke? Brush Fire Breaks Out Near Murrieta

SANTA ROSA PLATEAU, CA — A small brush fire erupted Friday just west of Murrieta, scorching roughly an acre before crews stopped it.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 1:11 p.m. in the area of Via Volcano and Tenaja Road, along the Santa Rosa Plateau, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames on a slope, burning at a slow rate to the north, not threatening any homes or other structures in the nearby community of La Cresta.

Two Cal Fire air tankers were summoned but were waved off and sent back to their bases as crews made rapid progress encircling the brusher, thanks largely to natural fire breaks provided by roads, according to reports from the scene.

The fire's forward rate of spread was stopped by 1:35 p.m.

It was not immediately clear what might have triggered the blaze.