RANCHO MISSION VIEJO — Firefighters battled a fast-moving brush fire Wednesday near Ortega Highway, prompting officials to close the heavily traveled route between Orange and Riverside counties.
The Gibby Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. near Ortega Highway and Gibby Road in the 34700 block of Ortega Highway, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
The fire began at about 3 acres before rapidly growing to an estimated 150 acres. Officials initially reported that the blaze had reached 450 acres but later revised the estimate to 216 acres after more accurate mapping.
Firefighters attacked the flames from the ground as aircraft made water and retardant drops. No homes were reported threatened.
State Route 74, also known as Ortega Highway, was closed in both directions between Gibby Road, east of San Juan Capistrano, and Decker Canyon Road, west of Lake Elsinore, according to Caltrans. Motorists were advised to use alternate routes.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for Orange County emergency zone ORT01 near the Riverside County line. No evacuation warnings or orders had been issued as of Wednesday evening.
Nearby Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park was closed while crews worked to contain the fire.
The cause of the fire was not immediately released. No injuries or damaged structures were reported.
