Vegetation fire in Aguanga burns roughly 80 acres

AGUANGA - A fire that broke out today near Aguanga blackened roughly 80 acres but posed no threat to homes or other structures in the area.

The non-injury blaze near Sabina Drive and Ballinger Road, about eight miles south of Hemet, was reported at 10:47 a.m., according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

By noon, the fire had expanded to 60 acres, and by 5 p.m., it had reached 80 acres, but "all forward progress was stopped," said Riverside County Fire Department Capt. Dan Harris.

Harris anticipated full containment by midnight.

A dozen engine crews, several water tender crews and two to three inmate hand crews -- altogether numbering around 130 personnel -- were working their way around the fire, Harris said.

Earlier in the day, six air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the blaze, but Harris said the air resources were sent home after the flames died down.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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Approximately 255 firefighters have responded to the scene of a vegetation fire spanning more than five acres, a Riverside County Fire Department Spokeswoman reported today.

The "Sabina" fire was first reported shortly before 11 a.m. in the area of Sabina Drive and Ballinger Road in Aguanga. The fire was burning at a "moderate rate of spread," according to spokewsoman Jennifer Fuhrman.

Fuhrman said that in addition to firefighters from Riverside County Fire Department, units from California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Fire Office Of Emergency Services and the U.S. Forestry service all arrived on scene in response to the fire. There were no initial reports of damage.

This is an ongoing situation. Check back in with the Anza Valley Outlook as we receive additional details.