Brush fire rages in Riverside, Calif

More than 250 firefighters were battling a 500-acre (202 hectare) brush fire Thursday afternoon that was burning across parched hillsides in western Riverside County near Corona, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The firefighters, armed with three water-dropping helicopters and four air tankers, have been attacking the blaze that broke out in an area about 50 km southeast of the downtown Los Angeles shortly before 1 p.m.(2000 GMT).

No structures were immediately threatened, but officials were warning residents nearby to be ready in case they were ordered to evacuate, the Riverside County Fire Department said, according to the Times.

The firefighters were aided by 10 ground crews and a number of bulldozers, cutting breaks along the fire flanks, the newspapers said.

Source:Xinhua