By Maeve Reston
Los Angeles Times
Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times
All Rights Reserved 

Firefighters in Riverside County on Monday contained a 290-acre brush fire that had threatened more than 200 homes southwest of Lake Elsinore shortly after it started Sunday afternoon.

Investigators are still examining the cause of the fire, which was reported from Lakeland Village about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

About 220 firefighters moved in quickly to fight the fire in the steep terrain south of the lake that is thick with brush and other vegetation.

Evacuation was recommended for some Lakeland Village residents but was expected to be lifted by midnight Monday, fire officials said.

Cheri Patterson, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Riverside County operations, said firefighters were aided Monday by moderate temperatures, relative humidity of 20% and winds under 6 mph.

Four air tankers and three helicopters assisted in fighting the Lookout II fire, which was fully contained by 6 p.m.

Fire crews and five engines planned to continue to monitor the area for spot fires throughout tonight, Patterson said. Officials are concerned about the return of Santa Ana winds, which are predicted for later this week.