Firefighters battle blaze on Ortega Highway

Orange County and U.S. Forest Service firefighters were battling a new blaze that broke out overnight on the Ortega Highway.

The blaze has burned about 45 to 50 acres near Mile Marker 14 in the Cleveland National Forest. Fire officials hope to have some water drops from aircraft later in the morning.

Ortega Highway is expected to be closed between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore for much of the morning.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo credit: Don Kelson / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tom]

Funny how these fires just "break out". Might be a little more accurate to call it what it is, mentally ill humans staring fires for fun. Fires don't "break out" in southern California, they are intentionally set.

[elinnor]

until when is ortega hwy is gonna be close to???:(