A brush fire that broke out Friday at the interchange of the Riverside (91) Freeway and the Corona (71) Expressway on the west end of Corona scorched 35 acres and threatened homes as crews attempted to set up a defensive perimeter.
The 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.
As of 5:20 p.m., the flames were threatening at least one home on Nutmeg Drive, according to reports from the scene.
Five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were summoned to make runs on the brusher.