RivCo Fire Scorches Acreage North of Lake Skinner

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- A brush fire just north of Lake Skinner in Winchester blackened about two acres Thursday morning before it was stopped by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 11:25 a.m. in the area of Fields Drive and Rebecca Street, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Two air tankers and a helicopter from the Cal Fire base at Hemet-Ryan Airport five miles to the north were the first to reach the scene and immediately initiated retardant and water drops. Within 20 minutes, the brusher's forward rate of progress had been stopped, and no homes or other structures were damaged.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.