Brush Fire Burns 154 Acres In Chino Hills, 1 Home Destroyed

CHINO HILLS (CBSLA) — Firefighters on Sunday battled a fast-moving brush fire in San Bernardino County that destroyed a family's home of nearly 30 years.

Footage from the scene showed flames burning dangerously close to homes near Chino Hills Parkway and Falling Star Lane in the Chino Hills area. The fire had burned 154 acres and was 65 percent contained as of 10 p.m.

The Chino Valley Fire Department confirmed one structure was damaged on 2000 block of Mira Mote Court.

Fire officials said they did all they could but a year of rain has led to a summer of dense and thick vegetation.

"We did have a wet winter and it has been very hot and dry so the vegetation is very dry,"  said Chino Valley Fire's Massiel Ladron De Guevara.

It was no comfort to the Forrest family. Homeowner Toni Forrest watched as her family's dream home, built 27 years ago, was gutted by flames while her husband and son desperately tried to save it.

"I think my house could've been saved," she told CBS2/KCAL9's Greg Mills. "I said, 'What are you guys doing? Why aren't you getting water on my house?' They said, 'We're waiting on more water. We're getting more trucks.'"

The fire department disputed the claim crews ran out of water.

Still, the Forrest family is thankful no one was hurt.

"We're still alive and we're still blessed," her son, Arthur Forrest II, said.

Chino Avenue between Rock Springs Road and Chino Hills Parkway was expected to be closed throughout night due to suppression activities.