VIDEO: A fire fanned by strong winds spread from brush to a junk yard and residential properties in Fontana.
There were no reports of injuries in the fire that broke out around midnight in the western San Bernardino County community. Powerful winds spread embers from the brush to a junk yard and residential properties several blocks away.
Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.
"Any fuel, grasses that died out over the summer, they're not able to take in any moisture," said San Bernardino County Fire Department Engineer Eric Sherwin. "So, it's still a very receptive fuel bed. These fuels will dry out immediately under the influence of this wind."
Embers can travel for miles in windy conditions, creating spot fires ahead of the main wildfire.
Wind gusts reached 55 mph, according to firefighters at the scene.