Skyline Fire: 150-Plus Homes Evacuated In Corona Brush Fire

CORONA (CBSLA) - A wildfire erupted Thursday near the entrance to a popular hiking spot in Corona and quickly grew, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 1:20 p.m. in the Cleveland National Forest along Tin Mine Canyon off of Skyline Drive, according to fire officials. As of 8:20 p.m. Thursday, it was 250 acres and 5 percent contained.

No homes have burned but more than 150 homes in the Orchard Glen community have been evacuated as airplanes drop retardant to keep flames from running down hillsides toward homes.

Smoke could be seen from the Riverside (91) Freeway to the north and Interstate 15 to the east, prompting several calls to the California Highway Patrol.

Evacuations were issued for the following roadways: Trudy Way, Folson Circle, Brannon Circle, Burrero Way, Rawley Street, Burnett Circle, Elker Road, Corbett Street, Gareth Circle, and Fanning Circle.

One homeowner who had already been through the last big brush fire in Corona told CBS2's Nicole Comstock he's got his evacuation procedure down to a science.

"Last time, we literally packed almost half the house in 45 minutes," he said. "We got it down to about one suitcase."

"Last time we evacuated, nothing happened, but you just never know [...] it wasn't this close, either," said resident Tawny Perry.

"There's a little bit of sadness 'cause you don't know what you're gonna come home to considering how close it is," David Ortega said.

An evacuation center has been set up at Corona High School, 1150 W. 10th St.

No injuries have been reported.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.