A brush fire that burned approximately 250 acres in the unincorporated Rancho Mission Viejo area, prompted the closure of a stretch of the Ortega Highway and the issuance of shelter-in-place orders, was 0% contained Thursday.
The Orange County Fire Authority announced at 7:34 p.m. Wednesday that the so called Gibby Fire’s progress had been stopped and the shelter-in-place orders lifted.
The fire initially broke out just after 2 p.m. Wednesday near the 34700 block of Ortega Highway, OCFA Capt. Greg Barta said.
By 3 p.m. it had grown to about 150 acres. A short time later it was estimated at 450 acres, but the size was later downgraded following an aerial observation flyover, according to crews on the scene. By early evening, it was estimated to be 250 acres.
Eastbound Ortega Highway was closed at Gateway in Rancho Mission Viejo and westbound at Grand in Lake Elsinore, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Eastbound state Route 74 was shut down at Avenida La Pata at the Riverside County line with Rancho Carrillo Road also closed, officials said.
By late afternoon, crews at the scene indicated some commercial structures were threatened by the flames, and shelter-in-place orders were issued for select areas, including Caspers Wilderness Park and Rancho Carrillo.