Wildfire has spread within 980 acres of land in Chino in southern California. NBC Los Angeles reported that cooking fire left unattended triggered the wildfire in the neighboring area of Inland Empire, California.
Fortunately, California Fire authorities announced that 35 percent of the fire within the 1,020 acres of land is now under control. The fire reportedly spread to 1,020 acres by 6 p.m., local time, on Sunday.
NBC 4 meteorologist, Shanna Mendiola, advised that the fire is predicted to spread within inland areas before the day ended, according to NBC Los Angeles.
A law enforcement official from the police department in Simi Valley noted that some people might have made out smoke in nearby areas. "If you are seeing or smelling smoke in the air and cannot identify an area that it is coming from it may be from the Highway Fire," the official said.
Fire alert was dispatched at 6:15 p.m. yesterday. The fire was seen coming from a forested basin area near the intersection between 91 and 71 freeways, according to another NBC Los Angeles article. The Riverside County Fire Department was cited as the publication's source for this information.
Evacuation alerts were suspended after firemen dispelled the flames in Chino. The wildfire reportedly almost destroyed 200 residential properties surrounding Chino's Prado Dam neighborhoods.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Captain Mike Mohler said fire fighters struggled in rescue operations within the area. "Crews really had a successful overnight with the humidity and the dissipation of the wind," said Mohler, sharing the reasons behind the challenge.
He said that the fire was situated away from fire rescuers' easy access. In turn, this made the rescue operations even more difficult. The captain said, "The fire is fueled by thick brush in a riverbed that hasn't burnt in years. The fire is creating its own weather, so firefighters are having difficulty getting in there."
Mohler observed that the fire came visibly coming in between the borders of Norco and Corona, a half-mile north away from a suburban neighborhood.
"This is what we're seeing because of the drought and the critical fuel conditions," he cited as the premise of his argument.
Liz Brown, another officer from The California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, released a general community wildfire advisory warning, according to The Los Angeles Times.
"Now the smoke has moved all over the county and into other counties. Stay indoors and keep your inhaler nearby," Brown advised.