Thousands evacuated as wind whips Southern California fire; freeway closed

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Flames pushed by hot Santa Ana winds jumped ridges and roads on a smoky march to Rancho Cucamonga today, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents and closure of two major freeways.

More than 4,000 acres have been scorched since the fire started Tuesday near the San Bernardino National Forest about 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, said Martin Esparza, a fire information officer for the blaze.

Billowing clouds of smoke hung above the heavily developed area today, while the California Highway Patrol ordered closure of Interstate 210 and Interstate 15, the main route from Southern California to Las Vegas.

Firefighters battled flames in backyards of homes in northeastern Rancho Cucamonga, and more than 1,000 residents were ordered out of the area, Esparza said.

About 2,000 people had been evacuated from the nearby Lytle Creek area Thursday because the blaze, fanned by winds 25 mph and higher, was expected to block the only road into it.

More than 1,400 firefighters backed by water-dropping aircraft battled the blaze, which was 17 percent contained early today, Esparza said. Temperatures in the high 90s were expected today, and winds were to gust up to 45 mph, said National Weather Service forecaster Frank O'Leary. Even stronger winds were expected over the weekend.

All schools in Fontana and many in nearby Etiwanda were closed today. Teacher Kelly Bocanegra said the only people at Caryn Elementary School in Etiwanda were teachers answering calls from concerned parents.

"It is scary because I know a lot of my children's homes have been evacuated," Bocanegra said by phone. Ash carried by gusty winds covered cars in the area a half-mile from the fire.

"As I was driving, I could see the flames. It looks like night time here," Bocanegra said.

Rancho Cucamonga resident Ruben Cedillo watched flames roar to within feet of his home, which is separated from undeveloped land by a cinderblock wall.

"We were out here watching the fire. It looked like it had already passed and then I went inside the house," he told KTLA-TV. "Five minutes later, all the windows shot all orange, you could feel the heat inside the house and that's when I came out. It was pitch black."

Firefighters in his yard saved the home, Cedillo said.

The blaze, which authorities blamed on arson, was one of several that swept through Southern California this week, destroying five homes and chewing through about 11,000 acres overall.