Lantz Fire Scorches Over 13 Acres Near Moreno Valley

MORENO VALLEY, CA —A brush fire erupted Friday in the hills on the east end of Moreno Valley, scorching a mapped 13.65 acres and was 25% contained as of 4 p.m. Fire resources will remain on scene for several hours completing containment and for mop up, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson said.

All evacuation warnings were lifted at noon when forward progress was halted, according to the department.

The non-injury blaze was first reported at about 10 a.m. in the area of Lantz Lane and Ironwood Avenue. Over an hour and a half later, the fire ballooned to almost 14 acres as winds picked up.

Multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames initially moving slowly through medium brush. However, gusting winds pushed the fire toward a few residences at a concerning rate, prompting the short-lived evacuation warning.

A Cal Fire air tanker and a water-dropping helicopter were summoned to make runs on the brusher. A column of smoke was visible for miles around, as seen on the www.AlertCalifornia.com cameras.

There was no immediate word on what might have triggered the blaze.