Fires Force Closure Of 15 Freeway In Wildomar

A series of three small fires that joined into one larger blaze in Wildomar temporarily forced the closure of the 15 Freeway at Baxter Road Thursday night.

The blazes were reported just before 9 p.m. at the southbound 15 Freeway, between Baxter and Clinton Keith roads.

The California Highway Patrol closed the southbound side of the freeway to through traffic for a short period as crews worked to battle the fires that were contained to one acre.

The freeway was partially reopened around 10 p.m.

While the cause of the blaze is under investigation, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Beach warned that freeway fires are usually traffic related. A vehicle’s exhaust, hot brakes or other hot parts of a vehicle can start fires, he said.

“Keep your vehicle maintained and don’t discard materials out your window,” Beach said.

“If you’re towing anything, keep your tow chains from dragging on the ground and don’t park your car over tall grass,” added CHP officer Mike Zamora, who was also on scene Thursday night.

Beach said there was no structure threat and the fire never passed over the freeway block fence.

No injuries were reported. --Daniel Lane contributed to this report.