Officials Say Cooking Fire Started California Blaze That Threatened 300 Homes

Firefighters are making progress on a fire that had threatened hundreds of homes near a Southern California dam.

Officials said an unattended cooking fire sparked the blaze on Saturday, triggering the nighttime evacuation of about 300 homes in an area along the border of the cities of Norco and Corona.

Cooperative weather and the efforts of hundreds of firefighters helped beat back the flames Sunday, and evacuation orders were lifted just before dawn.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said the fire, which had grown to 1.6 square miles, was 35 percent contained.

The fire burned in the Prado Dam Flood Control Basin, where vegetation has not burned in decades.

No property damage or injuries were reported.