triangle complex fire

Firefighters on at least two fronts were working today to control a wildfire that destroyed at least 16 Corona homes as it skipped back and forth through the Santa Ana River valley, growing into a super-fire dubbed the Triangle Complex fire.

The fire, which eventually prompted as many as 40,000 evacuations in Riverside and Orange counties Saturday, had active fronts early today in Carbon Canyon's Olinda Village area, where a church and mobile home park were threatened, and in Chino Hills in San Bernardino County.

Fire officials urged people who see flames advancing on their homes to go ahead and evacuate without waiting for official orders.

The fire, which burned about 7,373 acres since starting amid Santa Ana conditions about 9 a.m. Saturday, was about 5 percent contained, according to fire officials.

More hot, dry weather is expected today. The relative humidity is expected to dip below 10 percent at times, and inland temperatures are forecast to push well into the 90s.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who declared a state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, is scheduled to visit the burn area at 11 a.m. Sunday, according to local press reports.

Winds early today were relatively light compared to sustained winds around 30 mph Saturday. A few gusts hit 60 mph in the Anaheim Hills.

In Corona, as many as 600 homes were evacuated Saturday morning, but most residents were allowed to go home by nightfall. At least 15 home in the Dean Homes neighborhood of Corona were destroyed.

A total of 16 homes were believed to have been lost in Corona.

More than 1,200 firefighters, backed up by firefighting aircraft, including a DC-10, attacked the blaze. In the afternoon, Corona police used loud speakers to order evacuations in the gated Dean Homes tract north of Highway 91.

The point of origin was in the Santa Ana riverbed, near the base of Prado Dam, said Corona Mayor Pro Tem Steve Nolan. The cause was unknown.

Four firefighters suffered what were described as minor injuries when a wall of flames overtook their engine as they tried to save a home near the Prado Dam during the early hours of the fire, said Lynn Mata of the Corona Fire Department. Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries in Orange County.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning, signifying high fire danger, through 4 p.m. A wind advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m.