Fire along I-15 near Temecula 100 percent contained; full control expected today

A fire that started in a vehicle spread to some brush along Interstate 15 south of Temecula. (Joe Fanaselle/SWRNN)

UPDATE 9/25:

According to fire officials, the Friday afternoon blaze that snarled traffic along the I-15 corridor by the Border Patrol Station near Rainbow, was declared 100 percent contained at 8:05 p.m. last night.

Although traffic was backed up for miles in both directions on the I-15 during the Friday afternoon rush hour commute, the blase only burned  5 acres.

According to officials, two engines, two fire crews and one water tender will be at the scene today.

Full control of the fire is estimated at noon today.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Traffic on Interstate 15 just south of Temecula is backed up because of a brush fire that has closed a portion of the busy highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The blaze was reported just before 4 p.m. and several lanes are closed, according to a posting on the CHP website.

The blaze first started as a vehicle fire near the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Rainbow and quickly spread to the nearby brush. Firefighting units from Riverside and San Diego counties are battling the flames.

There are reports that cars stuck in the traffic are making illegal turns onto the center divider to get out the backup. The CHP is reporting that traffic is backed up in both directions and for miles, particularly southbound lanes from the I-15/Interstate 215 split in the Murrieta area into Temecula. There are reports that traffic is either stopped or moving very slowly from Murrieta into Temecula. Northbound traffic on the I-15 into Fallbrook is very slow and picks up once drivers pass the Border Patrol checkpoint.

According to a Calfire update at 4:30 p.m., the fire has grown to three to five acres and is spreading at a low rate of speed. Temperatures are in the 90s and there is low humidity.