WINCHESTER: More than 75 firefighters arrived on scene to put out a fast moving brush fire in the French Valley/Winchester area. The incident, dubbed the "Washington Fire," broke out just before 10:30a.m. in a field east of the intersection of Washington Avenue and Abelia Street. Engine 34 arrived at scene and reported two-acres of light brush involved, with the fire moving at a moderate rate of spread. Access was difficult, and the fire ran quickly up a hill toward the east as Engine 34 made access through the field and began their attack.

Along with the 75 firefighters who responded to the incident, a helicopter, two air tankers and one air attack plane provided air support. The fire was stopped at the ridge and held to approximately 20-acres. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately released, but there were combine tractors working in the field to harvest a dry crop at the time the fire broke out. The tractors may have been a contributing factor.  

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