Southern California Salvation Army facility gutted by fire

PERRIS, Calif. (AP) - Damage from a huge fire at a Southern California Salvation Army facility was estimated at $3.5 million, authorities said.

The fire was burning in a lot in the city of Perris when firefighters arrived Tuesday afternoon, and it soon spread to a large building and surrounding vegetation, Cal Fire/Riverside County said.

The building became fully involved within an hour and the burning brush forced nearby train tracks to be shut down.

The fire was contained by 130 firefighters at 9 p.m.

The destroyed building was a storage annex for the Salvation Army facility, Southern California News Group reported.