California wildfire threatens homes (Video)

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — A fast-moving wildfire in Southern California forced the mandatory evacuation Wednesday of more than 1,100 homes near Rancho Cucamonga, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

The fire began in the San Bernardino National Forest at about 8 a.m. local time, and it has grown to more than 650 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Winds that gusted up to 70 mph prevented an aerial attack on the blaze, but firefighting aircraft were being kept on standby in Hemet and San Bernardino, according to John Miller of the U.S. Forest Service, which was part of a unified command with the Rancho Cucamonga agency and Cal Fire.

Firefighters’ focus was on protecting lives and homes, so no containment figures were being reported, Miller said.

“This is a Santa Ana-driven fire and it’s pushing down off the mountains at the community,” Miller said.

Some 1,650 homes were evacuated in the morning, but that order was lifted just before 6 p.m., the Forest Service stated on Twitter.

Voluntary evacuations remained in place for residents north of Hillside Road between Haven and Hermosa avenues, according to an evening update from the city of Rancho Cucamonga. Just to the east, residents north of Banyan Street from Haven to Milliken avenues were subject to voluntary evacuations; that area includes Chaffey College.

Agencies/Canadajournal