Crews Make Quick Work Of Lake Elsinore Brush Fire

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A brush fire that erupted Monday along a dry canal beneath Interstate 15 in Lake Elsinore scorched nearly three acres and approached several businesses before crews got it partially contained.

The non-injury "Diamond Fire" was reported just before 4 p.m. in the area of Diamond and Auto Center drives, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium to heavy brush, mainly underneath the southbound side of the freeway.

A battalion chief requested that California Highway Patrol officers close one southbound lane because of heavy smoke drifting into traffic.

The flames approached a restaurant and other businesses in a strip mall but did not cause any damage to the outlets, according to reports from the scene.

As of 4:40 p.m., firefighters were making steady progress encircling the brusher, with full containment expected by 6 p.m.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.