Hundreds Flee Fire in Hills Near Corona
A wildfire moved rapidly across hillsides south of Corona on Thursday, charring about 250 acres of brush and citrus groves, damaging two houses and prompting the evacuation of more than 200 homes.
The blaze was one of four burning out of control in Southern California and northern Baja California on Thursday night as the area continued to swelter under 100-degree temperatures.
Joan Evans, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry, said the 250 firefighters deployed to battle the blaze in Riverside County were hampered by the gusting winds, high temperatures and low humidity of a Santa Ana weather system that has enveloped Southern California.
She said the fire, which broke out about 3:30 p.m., spread quickly despite water drops by helicopters and air tankers. The blaze was still expanding at nightfall.
Two other wildfires continued to spread in rural San Diego County. Another fire was burning across the border near Tecate, Mexico.
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