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Fast-Growing Wildland Fire Blazing in Beaumont

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By Melissa Pamer

| Saturday, Jun 16, 2012 | Updated 10:30 PM PDT

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A quickly growing blaze in Beaumont, shot from Interstate 10 on Saturday afternoon.

A Riverside County wildland fire that was first reported about 1:20 p.m. Saturday south of Beaumont quickly grew to more than 2,000 acres in a little over five hours.

Some 285 firefighters were on the scene of the blaze, which was initially seen off Potrero Road near the Wolfskill Extension Truck Trail (map), where an incident command post had been set up by 6:40 p.m. Five air tankers were battling the fire from above.

The fire grew from 400 to 600 acres within 20 minutes, according to a 3:50 p.m. update on an incident report on the Riverside County Fire Department's website. At 5:25 p.m., the blaze was reported to be 1,100 acres. A 6:40 p.m. update said the blaze has grown to 2,000 acres.

Firefighers were working steep, rugged terrain with winds that were changing direction, according to Jody Hagemann of the fire department.

"The wind shifts all the time this time of day," said Hagemann at about 5:15 p.m.

The fast-growing blaze had caused no injuries, and no structures were threatened as of 3:30 p.m. Hagemann said it was burning away from structures and up into the San Jacinto Mountains. Firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the night.

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View Growing wildland fire south of Beaumont in a larger map