Firefighters Contain One Riverside County Wildfire

Fire crews have contained one of three wildfires in Riverside County, which were sparked by lightning from unusually strong summer storms.

The 70-acre Saddle Fire near Hemet is now fully contained. It was the smallest of the fires. It scorched 70 acres before crews were able to overpower it Friday. Authorities said the fire burned in heavy brush near Oak Glen Road and Red Mountain Road after it was sparked at 3:47 p.m. Thursday.

The Cactus Fire, also near Hemet, is 30 percent contained with 647 acres burned, authorities reported Saturday. It was the first fire to break out Thursday in the area of Red Mountain Road and Oak Creek.

The Skinner Fire burning east of Murrieta and Temecula is 60 percent contained. Authorities say it has burned 503 acres so far. It is the largest of the blazes. The fire was reported at 3:42 p.m. Thursday near Crown Valley Road and De Portola Road, just northeast of Lake Skinner County Park.

The weather that is blamed for the fires was a wild combination of lightning strikes, thunder, rain, hail and very strong winds. Riverside County residents said they had never seen anything quite like it.

KABC contributed to this story