Cabazon brush fire contained

This morning, Cal Fire and Riverside County firefighters fully contained a 270-acre brush fire in Cabazon.

The Elm Fire, named after a nearby street, was doused by 8 a.m. The blaze erupted Tuesday afternoon when a 23-year-old Beaumont man laid down his motorcycle on dry brush and the exhaust set off flames, said Jody Hagemann, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department.

Gusty winds helped spread the flames, while the man, whose name was not released, ran to a nearby home for help, she said. Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 3:19 p.m. south of Ida Avenue and Elm Street.

“The area is sparsely populated,” Hagemann said.

No evacuations were issued. About 12 fire crews consisting of 265 firefighters helped battle the blaze. Assisting in the attack from the air were six helicopters and four air tankers, Hagemann said.

Fire investigators have cited the man for a misdemeanor violation of causing a fire by a negligent action, Hagemann said. Riding motorcycles in the wildland area is illegal, officials said. Fire investigators impounded the man's motorcycle and said they would seek to recover costs of fighting the fire from the cyclist, Hagemann said.

-- Ruben Vives