Forest Service stops wilderness fire

San Bernardino National Forest fire crews and aircraft held and extinguished a half-acre vegetation fire in the San Jacinto Wilderness Sunday and Monday, according to Public Information Officer Bob Poole.
A hiker reported seeing white smoke rapidly building in the Tahquitz Valley area late morning Sunday. In the meantime, a wilderness team was extinguishing an illegal campfire at Saddle Junction.
Helicopter 301 and crew, plus another copter and crew, were dispatched to the Tahquitz Fire, located in Little Tahquitz Valley. Keenwild and Alandale engine crews were flown in.
At least one helitanker and crew also were dispatched and were able to knock down the fire by late Sunday.
All except one crew was released by end of day. The one crew remained overnight and mopped up the scene by 4 p.m. Monday, according to Poole.
Cause of the blaze was an abandoned campfire, he added.