Firefighters responded to the fire on the border of Norco and Corona after receiving a report at around 6:12 p.m. on Saturday. Around 335 firefighters were called and brought to the scene along with the deployment of a pair of water-dropping helicopters and a pair of air tankers.
Within just two hours since the fire broke, it already spread to more than 30 acres. Fire officials said that the fire is spreading faster than usual during this time of year and had attributed it to the dry conditions that are caused by California's drought.
From 30 acres, the fire grew and burned 300 acres and was contained at 15 percent. On Sunday, helicopter teams tried to survey the fire but were faced with a thick cloud of smoke that made the views obscured and flying conditions dangerous.
"The fire is fueled by thick brush in a riverbed that hasn't burnt in years," said Capt. Mike Mohler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "The fire is building its personal weather, so firefighters are possessing difficulty getting in there."
No injuries had so far been reported.
"Our assignment is to do structure protection here at a couple homes," said Cal Fire Capt. David Bell.
Apart from the thick smoke that affected the firefighters' visibility of the area, they are also being hampered by the area's rough terrain, according to Jennifer Fuhrman who is a spokeswoman for the Riverside County department.
"Right now, the wind is not in our favor," said Mohler. He added that they are hoping it will shift overnight and that they will gain an upper hand on the situation.
Recent reports say that the fire has grown to 980 acres and is 25 percent contained. Residents along the roads of Bluff, Homestead, and Stagecoach had to be placed under evacuation orders which were eventually lifted on early Sunday morning. There were no damaged structures that were reported.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Fire officials suspect that a truck could be too close to the dry brush which is near the highway and had triggered a spark.
Fire crews said that once the fire becomes fully contained and knocked out, it may take them several weeks to mop up the affected area. Heavy smoke was seen all over the place and may remain for several days.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
