NORTH COUNTY – Thick smoke darkened the horizon in North County Monday afternoon as a fire charred up to 100 acres of brush near Vail Lake in Riverside County.
No homes were threatened by the blaze that broke out east of Rancho California shortly after 3 p.m., Cal Fire Capt. Nick Schuler said.
Four helicopters and six air tankers helped Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department crews douse most of the flames by 4:30 p.m. The forward spread of the fire was halted by 6:30 p.m., Schuler said.
He said firefighters would continue working Monday night to make sure the blaze doesn't flare up.
The California Highway Patrol closed state Route 79 at Pauba and Sage roads. It is expected to reopen by 8 a.m.
Pauline Repard: (619) 293-1893;
pauline.repard@uniontrib.com
