Brush fire in Lake Elsinore area scorches 145 acres, destroys home

A brush fire that erupted on a hillside just west of Lake Elsinore has scorched 145 acres, destroyed one structure, and is threatening homes Friday abutting the Cleveland National Forest, prompting mandatory evacuation orders.

The non-injury Macy Fire was reported at 5:42 p.m. Thursday in the vicinity of the El Cariso Campground, north of the Ortega (74) Highway, just west of Macy Street, in an unincorporated area, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

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By 1 a.m. Friday, it had grown to 134 acres with 15% containment, the department reported.

Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, U.S. Forest Service, Orange County Fire Authority and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames running downhill at a "dangerous rate of spread," heading directly toward residences alongside the federal preserve, according to the department.

Five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters immediately began runs on the blaze, making drops for the protection of homes in the fire's path, according to reports from the scene.

The flames jumped the highway at 6:50 p.m., burning along both sides near a turnout known as the Candy Store, according to officials.

An interactive map of the areas under evacuation can be found HERE .

An evacuation order was issued for all properties south of Grand Avenue, east of Fairview Street and west of Ortega Highway. A temporary evacuation center was initially established at Lakeside High School.

Elsinore High School was designated as the evacuation center as of 8 p.m., officials said.

California Highway Patrol officers and county sheriff's deputies fully shut down Ortega Highway in both directions between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore.
Motorists were being turned around from where they came for public safety.

Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore was also closed between Macy Street and the Ortega Highway due to the amount of traffic clogging the corridor.

With nightfall approaching, sundowner winds in the area were expected to abate, giving crews an opportunity to begin digging containment lines.

A night-flying helicopter was summoned to make water drops in support of ground crews, while the air tankers and day-restricted helicopters were preparing to clear the scene.

There was no immediate word regarding how the blaze might have started.

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