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A vegetation fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon near Mecca was contained just before 8 p.m. that night to 17 acres, Cal Fire reported on Twitter Thursday. 

One engine and one water tender remained on the scene Thursday to patrol the fire, the agency said. 

The blaze was first reported at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday near Parkside Drive, which leads to the Salton Sea State Recreation Area, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. While the fire was burning at a slow rate initially, the department said that by 4 p.m., it began to increase in size. 

Cal Fire reported 0% containment at about 6 p.m.

Thirteen engine crews were sent to the location, and two Cal Fire air tankers were summoned to make runs on the brush fire. A fire official said the request was rare given the location of the blaze.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire.

City News Service contributed to this report. 

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