The 70-acre /*Saddle Fire*/ near /*Hemet*/ is now fully contained. It was the smallest of the fires. It scorched 70 acres before crews were able to overpower it Friday. Authorities said the fire burned in heavy brush near Oak Glen Road and Red Mountain Road after it was sparked at 3:47 p.m. Thursday.
The /*Cactus Fire*/, also near Hemet, is 50 percent contained with 647 acres burned, authorities reported Saturday. It was the first fire to break out Thursday in the area of Red Mountain Road and Oak Creek.
The /*Skinner fire*/ had claimed 503 acres of burned land near Crown Valley Road and Lake Skinner, down from earlier estimates up to 970 acres, and was 100 percent contained late Friday. The fire was reported at 3:42 p.m. Thursday.
The weather that is blamed for the fires was a wild combination of lightning strikes, thunder, rain, hail and very strong winds. /*Riverside County*/ residents said they had never seen anything quite like it.
CNS contributed to this report.
