A brush fire that broke out Thursday, August 22, off Highway 243 in the San Bernardino National Forest south of Banning scorched approximately 30 acres before it was extinguished.

The fire, dubbed the “Edna Fire,” was reported around 3:39 p.m. in the area of ​​Highway 243 and Mount Edna Road in Banning, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

A portion of the highway, from San Gorgonio Avenue and Lincoln Street to Poppet Flats Road, was closed due to the fire, which had grown to 26.2 acres as of 4:51 p.m.

The agency said several firefighting crews, two Cal Fire firefighting aircraft and a helicopter with water pumpers were dispatched to the scene. The two encountered flames advancing at moderate speeds on the south side of the two-lane mountain road.

For safety reasons, police closed the lanes leading from the city into the federal protection area.

Cal Fire aircraft initiated attacks on the brush, slowing its advance, and by 6:00 p.m. the forward rate of advance had stopped.

According to official information, no evacuations were announced, no buildings were threatened and no injuries were reported.

A “difficult” start to the wildfire season, even before the winds start