Cutca Fire 50% contained after burning 167 acres

Firefighters are battling a vegetation fire that’s sending smoke over part of the Coachella Valley.

The Cutca Fire broke out on Friday around 4 p.m. It’s burning in steep and inaccessible terrain east of Cutca Valley and south of Long Canyon, about two miles north of the Palomar Observatory in the Cleveland National Forest, according to the incident report.

Officials said the fire has burned 167 acres and is 50 percent contained as of Monday morning.

No structures are currently threatened.

The U.S. Forest Service says crews are having a hard time getting up to the fire because there are no access roads in the area. Water dropping aircraft have been assisting.

Crews will continue mop-up operations Monday and the cooler temps are expected to help.

The forest service is getting help from the Riverside County Fire Department.