Fire Burns 40 Acres Near I-215 in Perris

Updated at 6:35 p.m.

A grass fire burned 40 acres in a field along the west side of Interstate 215 north of Ethanac Road in Perris today. No structures were involved and no injuries were reported, a fire official said.

The fire was reported to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department at 4:22 p.m. Nine engines and three chief officers responded to the scene, which is a hay field on an agricultural plot bordering the freeway. Thick brown smoke was visible for miles and traffic slowed in both directions on the 215.

According to Todd Williams, division chief for Cal/Riverside County Fire, firefighters contained the perimeter of the fire as it approached a ditch between the field and the freeway and burned itself out. Full containment was reported at 6:09 p.m.

"The fire is running along those rows of hay," Williams said as crews fought the blaze. "You can see where the field has been mowed, creating those rows. It's burning right along those areas.

"Instead of getting out in front of the fire where the smoke is so bad, the firefighters are working the edges. It's starting to burn itself out as it approaches the edge of the freeway."

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Williams said.

Hand crews were requested for 3-4 hours of mop-up work. By 6 p.m., traffic on the 215 was proceeding at a normal pace.