Mop-up work continued Thursday in Rancho Mission Viejo, where a brush fire scorched about 217 acres of terrain and prompted some shelter-in-place orders and a closure of Ortega Highway, but the flames were no longer spreading.
The Gibby Fire broke out at about 2 p.m. Wednesday near the 34700 block of Ortega Highway, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta said. The blaze grew quickly, covering about 150 acres within in hour and later being estimated at about 250 acres.
On Thursday, the OCFA announced that one of its drones flew over the burn area overnight and determined the blaze actually burned 217 acres of terrain, and the blaze was 5% contained, although the flames were no longer spreading. Crews remained on the scene conducting mop-up operations, dousing any remaining hotspots, while extending the containment line around the burn area. That containment was “expected to increase significantly” Thursday.
At the height of the fire Wednesday, shelter-in-place orders were issued for several areas, including Caspers Wilderness Park and Rancho Carrillo. All of those orders were lifted late Wednesday.
Ortega Highway was closed in both directions between Gateway in Rancho Mission Viejo and Grand in Lake Elisnore. That closure remained in effect Thursday morning.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.