Crews appeared to have the upper hand while battling a roughly 60-acre wildfire reported near the Holy Jim Trail in the Cleveland National Forest Wednesday, March 2.

The fire had consumed about 10 acres shortly after it was initially reported at about 11:30 a.m., Cleveland National Forest spokesman Nathan Judy said. It grew to about 60 acres by 1:30 p.m., but was not threatening cabins along the trail or any other structures.

#JimFire update; fire is 60-acres, moderate rate of spread. Additional resources have been ordered. pic.twitter.com/PFBjb8yz1Y

— Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) March 2, 2022

Flames were moving at a “moderate pace,” Judy said. Moisture from recent snowfall helped prevent the fire from growing out of control.

Firefighters also happened to already be in the area to conduct a prescribed burn, a preventative measure to clear brush that might potentially fuel a wildfire, when the fire was reported, Judy said. So, they were able to respond almost immediately.

Roughly 50 to 60 firefighters from the National Forest Service and Orange County Fire Authority were tackling the blaze Wednesday afternoon. They were working on the ground and in the air manning 8 engine crews, 2 hand crews, 2 helicopters and 2 air tankers.

The fire burning Wednesday cast a tall plume of smoke visible from Fontana, Mission Viejo, Murrieta and other communities in Orange and Riverside counties. It was burning in the same area that was devastated by the Holy fire in 2018, which consumed over 6,000 acres.