A vegetation fire first reported at 3:01 p.m. Monday near Sunset Avenue in Banning was fully contained after reaching about 54 acres, Riverside County Fire officials said on the county’s website.
The agency said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames burning at a moderate rate in an open field.
The brusher was in the immediate vicinity of Union Pacific railroad tracks, and the rail line was ordered shut down for public safety, snarling freight traffic.
No homes or other structures were threatened.
Three Cal Fire air tankers initiated runs on the blaze that slowed its advance, and at 4:30 p.m., the forward rate of spread was halted, according to reports from the scene.
The final report indicating the fire had been contained came at 9:14 p.m. Monday.
The UP line was reopened.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation.
It is one of several wildfires burning across Southern California on Monday, leading to smoky skies and unhealthy air quality.
Contributing: City News Service
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Sunset Fire: Location, size, containment, evacuations
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