A fire on the Morongo Grade slowed traffic Sunday afternoon. Shortly after 5:30, firefighters from CalFire, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and the Bureau of Land Management responded to a call of about five to seven large spot fires on the east side of Highway 62 in the canyon, north of the traffic light at Indian Trail. By the time firefighters arrived, the fires had consolidated into a fire 1 to 1 ½ miles long. The California Highway Patrol closed the eastbound number two lane and escorted cars through the pass. Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours. The cause of the about 5-acre fire is under investigation.
