Wildfire Blackens 100 Acres Near Hemet

A fire blackened as many as 100 acres this afternoon in Sage, south of Hemet, but no structures were immediately threatened.

The blaze was reported at 2:41 p.m. near Old Ranch and Sage roads, said Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County Fire Department. There was no immediate word on what sparked the flames.

Nearly 200 firefighters, a helicopter and five air tankers were called in to drop fire retardant and water on the brusher, which was being fanned by 9 mph winds, Hagemann said.

Cactus Valley Road between State Street and state Route 3 was shut down, according to the California Highway Patrol.