BEAUMONT (CNS) - A brush fire broke out this afternoon along the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway just west of Beaumont, prompting closure of both the east- and westbound sides of the freeway and resulting in major traffic tie-ups.
The blaze started shortly after 3 p.m. near Jack Rabbit Trail and the 60 and had blackened roughly 85 acres within two hours, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The brusher was concentrated on the north side of the freeway and was about 60 percent contained by 5:30 p.m., with full containment expected around 6 p.m.
No injuries were reported and the fire was not threatening structures, but power lines were down in the area, said fire department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.
For the safety of motorists, the California Highway Patrol and Beaumont police shut down both sides of the 60 between Gilman Springs Road and Jack Rabbit Trail, a roughly four-mile stretch west of Beaumont.
CHP Officer Chris Blonden said the freeway should be reopened by 6:30 p.m., depending on how much progress crews have made on the blaze. Meantime, motorists were being rerouted onto Interstate 10, he said.
There was no word on how the fire started.
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