Firefighters have successfully contained a brush fire that ignited Wednesday afternoon in the Cleveland National Forest. The incident began just before 2 p.m. along Sunrise Highway near the Penny Pines Trailhead.
By 3:30 p.m., crews reported that they had halted the forward rate of spread of the fire, which initially was estimated to cover between 5 to 10 acres. The U.S. Forest Service later confirmed the blaze burned approximately 9 acres. Fortunately, no structures were threatened, and while the fire had the potential to expand to 25-50 acres, prompt and effective response efforts prevented further growth.
Ground crews, positioned strategically close to the fire, were supported by aerial firefighting resources, which played a critical role in controlling the situation.
Cal Fire has advised residents and visitors to avoid the area while crews remain on scene to complete their mop-up operations. Fire officials expressed gratitude to the community for their cooperation and reassured them that safety remains a top priority.
