Lightning Ignites Anza Brush Fire Amid Fast-Moving Thunder Storm

ANZA, CA — Lightning from a fast-moving thunderstorm ignited five acres of brush in Anza, officials say, but was quickly doused due to nearby firefighters battling the Dale Fire.

Lightning struck the east end of Anza on Thursday, triggering a small blaze that was partially contained within an hour thanks to the quick work of a Cal Fire aircraft, already in the area.

Smoke showed on the Alert Wildfire cameras, callingin the department to the non-injury "Everett Fire" shortly after 1:15 p.m. Thursday.

This was a sparsely populated area near the intersection of Everett and El Toro roads, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

Multiple engine and hand crews were pulled from the 1,000-acre "Dale Fire" 10 miles to the west to engage the new brusher, which erupted after several lightning strikes from a fast-moving thunderstorm cell crossed along the boundary between Riverside and San Diego counties.

Two Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the blaze less than 20 minutes after it started, slowing its advance as crews deployed along surrounding dirt roads to begin establishing tentative containment lines.

No structures were damaged.

As of 3 p.m., the fire's forward rate of spread had been stopped.

Thunderstorms remained a concern Thursday afternoon at the southern end of Riverside County, as well as the mountains of northern San Diego County.