Fire Breaks Out In Lambs Canyon

BEAUMONT, CA — A fire broke out Wednesday inside a Riverside County- owned landfill in the Beaumont area and blackened about two acres before crews got it under control, officials report. The fire in Lambs Canyon was first reported around 11:20 a.m.

The non-injury blaze burned on the northwest side of the Lamb Canyon Landfill, just off of Lamb Canyon Road and Highway 79, according to the county fire department.

Multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames pushing east. Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned to make runs on the blaze, enabling firefighters to establish containment lines within a half-hour. By noon, all aircraft returned to Hemet- Ryan Airport about 10 miles to the south.

Traffic reports indicated a slight slowdown headed south on Highway 79 in the area, but no lanes were closed.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

— City News Service contributed to this report