Crews stop Orange County brush fire that closed Ortega Highway
Firefighters on Friday evening, Sept. 13, stopped a wildfire in Orange County that prompted the closure of Ortega Highway for several hours.
The blaze, touched off by a vehicle fire, was reported just before 4 p.m. at the edge of the Cleveland National Forest in the area of Rancho Carrillo Road, Orange County Fire Authority said.
Ortega Highway, also known as Highway 74, is a key commuter link between Orange and Riverside counties and was closed in both directions. At 8:17 p.m., the California Highway Patrol said it would reopen the highway at 10 p.m.
No structures were in the flames’ path, said OCFA Capt. Jon Muir.
The fire initially moved quickly uphill in light winds but then slowed down, Muir said. About 30 acres burned before its progress was halted.
Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service also fought the fire.
SAN JUAN] #OCFA Eng. 56 alarm to a VEG. FIRE near Ortega Hwy & Rancho Carrillo Rd. Started by a vehicle Fire. 30 acres burned. OCFA, USFS, CALFIRE at scene. OCFA helitnkr, 3 helos & fixed wing, ISR, Dozer 1 & 2 worked w/OCFA & USFS ground crews to stop the fire./INFO1 pic.twitter.com/1mKyO3Oc26
— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) September 14, 2019