Brush fire breaks out near homes in Hacienda Heights

A brush fire broke out near homes in Hacienda Heights Friday afternoon as much of Southern California was under a red flag warning due to increased wildfire risks.

The blaze was reported at 2:09 p.m. in the 17200 block of Colima Road and firefighters were on the scene by 2:13 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Around 3 p.m., the department said the fire had burned through just a quarter of an acre.

Fire officials said at that time no homes were threatened by the blaze as far as authorities were aware.

Aerial footage at 3:35 p.m. shows a huge plume of smoke rising from some shrubbery near a neighborhood, with a few flames visible.

With strong, dry gusts throughout the Southland, forecasters had warned of critical fire weather conditions in the Inland Empire and Santa Ana Mountains, which are just 40 miles south of Hacienda Heights.

No other details have been released by the fire department.