Crews Get Upper Hand In Brush Fire Near Hemet

SAGE, CA — A brush fire erupted Wednesday afternoon in an unincorporated area near Hemet, but firefighters were gaining control by evening.

As of 6:30 p.m., the 16-acre Stanley Fire was 40% contained and the forward rate of spread on the blaze was stopped.

The non-injury blaze was reported at about 1:45 p.m. in the area of Stanley and Sage roads, about four miles north of Highway 371, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

Multiple 911 callers reported seeing smoke in the area near Stanley Road and Red Mountain Road, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson Maggie De La Rosa said. Upon arrival, the on-scene incident commander requested 20 additional engines and air support.

Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Cal Fire-San Diego County, the Corona Fire Department and other agencies were sent to the location to battle flames burning amid light hillside vegetation.

Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters initiated a series of runs on the fire, slowing its advance, according to reports from the scene.

Crews were experiencing challenges establishing lines around the blaze due to the terrain. The flames were moving in the direction of scattered residences and outbuildings.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. No evacuations were ordered.

One road closure was reported: a stretch of Thomas Road was shut down between Wilson Valley Road and the fire zone.

The blaze was burning near last year's Fairview Fire scar, which also burned near Red Mountain Road.

Related:

15 Images Show Devastation Of Fairview Fire In Riverside County

This is a developing report and more information will be added as soon as it is released.