A brush fire that broke out Friday near the interchange of the Riverside (91) Freeway and the Corona (71) Expressway on the west end of Corona scorched more than 50 acres and threatened homes before Cal Fire aircraft slowed it down, enabling crews to begin establishing containment lines.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 4:20 p.m. on the eastbound side of the 91, possibly in a homeless encampment between the freeway and Palisades Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews from the county and Corona Fire Department converged on the location a short time later, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate to the southeast.
Five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs by 5:30 p.m., significantly slowing the blaze as it approached several properties on Nutmeg Drive. Firefighters set up a defensive perimeter that prevented damage to the homes.
As of 6 p.m., all air tankers and two helicopters had departed the location, with ground crews using surrounding roads to strengthen and secure containment lines, according to reports from the scene.
As winds died down toward sunset, firefighters were making steady progress encircling the brusher, though they were expected to remain on the fire lines into Saturday morning.
The blaze was only a few miles south of where the 120-acre Euclid Fire in San Bernardino County crossed the 71 freeway before it was stopped Wednesday.