Wildfire — Riverside, California

2001-06-29 · near Lake Elsinore, Riverside, California

Wider weather episode

A wild fire, started by sparks from the undercarriage of a Jeep hitting a large rock, consumed 75 acres of brush on the west side of Interstate 15, and 5 acres along the east side of the freeway between North and Lake Streets in Lake Elsinore. Traffic on the freeway was backed up for several miles due to thick smoke and flames in the median strip. The driver of the jeep perished in the fire.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5252050. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.