Crews battle 70-acre brush fire in Temecula along 15 Freeway

TEMECULA, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters battled a 70-acre vegetation fire that erupted along southbound Interstate 15 in Temecula Saturday afternoon.

The fire started around 11:40 a.m., according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Many drivers and residents in the area reported seeing the dark clouds of smoke and flames along the freeway.

More than 200 firefighters and a helicopter worked to put out the blaze. No structures were threatened.

The southbound freeway has two lanes opened at Temecula Parkway as crews fought the blaze. One northbound lane was also closed.

Officials said one firefighter suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to the hospital.

The cause of the brush fire was unknown.