70-acre brush fire erupts near Apple Valley homes

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A brush fire that erupted in Apple Valley burned dangerously close to homes on Tuesday afternoon and covered the neighborhoods with smoke.

The vegetation fire was reported in the Spring Valley Lake community near Riverside Drive and Seneca Road at about noon and was burning in a river bottom in the area of Mojave Narrows Regional Park.

Approximately 70 acres have burned. One vehicle and one outbuilding were destroyed. As of 7:30 p.m., the fire was 30 percent contained.

Officials say 100 structures are threatened, with seven under immediate threat.

Evacuations were initially ordered for residents on Riverside Drive and an evacuation center was opened at Sitting Bull Middle School, 19455 Sitting Bull Road. The evacuations were lifted Tuesday evening.

Riverside Drive remains open to residents only.

PHOTOS: Brush fire burns near homes in Spring Valley Lake

Winds moving 10 to 15 mph pushed the flames through heavy brush along the river bottom.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.