Multiple fire departments have been battling a brush fire burning in the river bottom near Brawley.

The fire was reported at about 2:00 p.m. Saturday near Carter and Elder Roads. The quick moving fire swept though dense brush in the river bottom and caused the evacuations of businesses and several homes. A number of horses in the Brawley Cattle CallPark were also evacuated. Heavy equipment from the City of Brawley , the Imperial Irrigation District as well as several local businesses were utilized fighting the fire. Fire equipment and personnel from all over the Imperial Valley and as far away as Yuma were involved in the incident. Crews remained on the scene through the night and were battling flare-ups well into Sunday. The northland of the Valley was blanketed in thick smoke from the fire.