Firefighters make progress against blaze burning near Moreno Valley

About 200 firefighters today were clearing vegetation around a brush fire that has burned more than 150 acres in the Reche Canyon area north of Moreno Valley, fire officials said.

The fire was reported at 2:58 p.m. Sunday near Reche Canyon Road and Haugen Drive, Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County Fire Department said. By 8 p.m. firefighters had cleared vegetation around 60 percent of the fire.

Battling the blaze were 200-plus firefighters, four water-dropping helicopters, four water tankers and 19 engine companies, Hagemann said.

Before firefighters were dispatched, a man was seen trying to put the fire out with a water bottle and stomping on it, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The same area was charred by a 17-acre brush fire in May.