CORONA, Calif. - Thousands of people were evacuated early Tuesday as firefighters battled to save homes from a wildfire that grew rapidly during the night, a fire official said. A man was charged with setting the blaze.


The El Cerrito fire, south of Corona in Riverside County, had burned across 5,000 acres, up from 1,600 late Monday, and was only 10 percent contained.


Between 3,000 and 4,000 homes had been evacuated since midnight because they were threatened by the blaze, said Rick Griggs, an engineer with the California Department of Forestry.


Griggs said he had unconfirmed reports that four buildings — possibly outbuildings — had been destroyed or damaged.


Late Monday, Richard Drew Brown was arrested and charged with "recklessly causing the fire with equipment," said Andy Spada, a CDF spokesman. Spada said he didn't have any details on the arrest or charges.


Another Riverside County blaze, south of Temecula, had destroyed or damaged "multiple structures" during the night, Griggs said. He did not know if the buildings were homes.


Southern California's 2004 fire season was officially opened Monday with a record temperatures above 100 degrees.

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