Fire Contained After Threatening Homes

A fast-moving brush fire, fueled by howling Santa Ana winds, burned more than 250 acres in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, forcing about 200 residents to evacuate their homes.

The fire, which threatened Ridgeview Estates, a development where homes are worth between $150,000 and $300,000, had been contained by late Tuesday night, officials said.

“But we still have spot fires and every time we get a gust of wind the situation could change,” said Michelle Bancroft, spokeswoman for the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District.

No structures had burned by late evening and there were no injuries, but fire officials said they were preparing for a long, arduous night.

“The eastern edge of the fire is burning within 100 yards of homes,” Bancroft said. “But we’re lucky because we have some natural firebreaks near the houses--a rocky area and some uneven terrain. And the recent rains have helped us. The brush is not real dry, so it’s not burning as fast.”

And because many of the houses are relatively new, she said, they have tile roofs, which are fire resistant.

Firefighters were hampered by the 35 to 50 mph winds and were unable to use aircraft to combat the blaze.

The probable cause of the fire, Bancroft said, was a power line downed by the winds.

Times wire services contributed to this story.