CORONA, Calif. (AP) -- Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes Tuesday as wildfires burned through Southern California brushlands parched by hot, dry weather that led to an early fire season declaration.
Some homes and outbuildings were destroyed, and a man was charged with negligently setting the largest blaze. Last fall, wildfires in Southern California destroyed thousands of homes.
The weather appeared to be improving Tuesday, with temperatures in the areas of the largest fires expected to top out in the mid-90s, about 10 degrees cooler than Monday. Forecasters also said the humidity would increase as air moved onshore from the Pacific.
The two biggest fires were in Riverside County, southeast of Los Angeles, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared both of them major disaster areas to make firefighting agencies eligible for federal funds. Fires also were being fought in San Diego County and up the coast in Santa Barbara County.
The Cerrito fire in Riverside County between Corona and Lake Elsinore exploded overnight to 5,000 acres, up from 1,600 late Monday. It was just 15 percent contained, according to the California Forestry Department. Three outbuildings, two unoccupied mobile homes and an unidentified structure were destroyed.
As many as 600 people were evacuated as the Cerrito fire approached their homes, and 2,000 to 3,000 others may have left voluntarily, said Rick Griggs, an engineer with the Forestry Department.
Abraham Contreras said firefighters warned him Monday night that flames were heading toward his home, so he cleared his own firebreak around his 33 acres.
``I went with the tractor and made a circle around the property,'' said Contreras, adding that the fire burned everything in the area except his and his neighbor's homes. ``The fire can't come back; everything's burned.''
One man was arrested for investigation of ``recklessly causing the fire with equipment,'' said Forestry Capt. Julie Hutchinson. She said the man ``didn't intentionally inflict damage; he did something that was negligent.''
Also in Riverside County, a 4,000-acre fire south of Temecula destroyed or damaged some structures during the night, Griggs said. Containment was estimated at 10 percent.
The destroyed structures included the Dorland Mountain Colony, a cluster of buildings used as an artists' retreat, said Forestry Capt. Jason Neuman.
The fire was about 10 miles south of an area that burned in last fall's wildfire siege.
``There's a lot of areas out there that haven't burned in many years so there's plenty of fuel to burn,'' Forestry Capt. Steven Diaz said.
Thousands of firefighters were on the job throughout Southern California and nearly a dozen had been treated for heat stroke, dehydration or injuries. At least two people fleeing a fire in the Los Padres National Forest were treated for smoke inhalation, cuts and bruises.
The start of the fire season was declared three weeks earlier than it was last year because of scant rainfall, high temperatures and a bark beetle infestation that has killed thousands of trees.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein suggested that recreational areas may have to be closed during the peak fire season. ``It's hardship for some, but on the other hand the worst hardship is to have one of these major firestorms in play,'' Feinstein told KNX-AM.
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