Brush Fire Causes Brief Closure Of Hwy 60

MORENO VALLEY – A vegetation fire broke out Sunday in the rugged hills known as the Badlands between Moreno Valley and Beaumont, causing one freeway to be briefly closed, the CHP reported.

The fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. near the summit of a winding, hilly stretch of the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway, and caused Highway Patrol officers to lead “round robin” escorts of vehicles through choking smoke.

“It was contained at about two acres and has been put out” after about an hour, said Cal Fire spokesperson Jody Hagemann. But after 3 p.m., heavy smoke was still causing near-collisions on the freeway, according to CHP officers at the scene.

No structures were threatened in the hills, which are a wildlife preserve.