Firefighters contain tamarisk tree fire in Bermuda Dunes

Firefighters were battling a tamarisk tree fire along the Union Pacific railroad tracks in Bermuda Dunes early Wednesday morning.

The flames were reported at 4:04 a.m. between the railroad tracks and Country Club Drive near the Bermuda Dunes Airport approximately a mile east of Washington Street.

The California Highway Patrol closed Country Club Drive between Jefferson Street and Adams Street as firefighters worked to put out the flames, visible from Interstate 10. The road was reopened to traffic by 9:00 a.m.

The fire was declared contained at 5:59 a.m. after burning approximately an acre of trees. Firefighters said the fire burned 771 feet of tree line.

Freeway traffic on Interstate 10 was not impacted by the fire, but at least two Union Pacific freight trains were seen stopped on the tracks just west of the fire scene during the blaze.

There were no immediate details on any injuries or a cause. Firefighters were expected to remain on the scene until approximately 8:00 a.m.

Firefighters have tended to several other fires in the same area in the past started from homeless encampments.

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