54-acre brush fire erupts near Lake Elsinore, threatens structures; 20 percent contained

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (KABC) -- A brush fire erupted in the foothills southwest of Lake Elsinore on Sunday afternoon and grew to 24 acres amid 20 percent containment, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded about 3:40 p.m. to the so-called Canyon Fire near Highway 74 and South Main Divide in Riverside County, according to Cal Fire, which set up a unified command with the National Forest Service.

No injuries were reported.

Multiple structures were threatened by the flames, even though the forward progress of the fire was halted, Cal Fire said. No evacuations were ordered.

All fixed-wing aircraft were placed on "load and hold" status, while fire helicopters remained activated at the scene, officials said.

After a closure that lasted almost three hours, Highway 74 was fully reopened between Grand Avenue and the Orange County line, Caltrans said.

The cause of the incident was determined to be a house fire that spread to nearby vegetation.