RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - The combination of lightning and an expanding drought in California has helped ignite dozens of new blazes as the state moves deeper into peak fire season.

Fire officials said most of the recent activity has erupted along the Sierra Nevada and across the southern half of the Golden State.

One of the newest fires, known as the Pyrite Fire, erupted in the Jurupa Valley between Los Angeles and Riverside.

The blaze, reported to have started on Friday, forced evacuations and scorched nearly 500 acres in Riverside County.

While firefighters were able to slow its growth on Saturday, officials said the official cause remains under investigation, with no significant reported injuries.

STUDY FINDS WILDFIRES IN WESTERN US ARE GROWING FASTER, CAUSING MORE DAMAGE

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