Ortega Highway Reopens After Nearly 7-Hour Closure

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Another Orange County brush fire erupted Thursday afternoon, this time forcing the closure of the Ortega Highway/state Route 74 for nearly seven hours.

The blaze was reported around noon near Hot Spring Canyon Road, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta.

The Ortega Highway's closure was requested between Nichols Institute/Quest Diagnostics and the candy store. A SigAlert was issued for both sides of the highway along that stretch.

Shortly before 7 p.m., the highway reopened in both directions.

The blaze, dubbed the San Juan fire, had the potential to burn about 100 acres, according to crews on scene. Initial reports indicated the brusher was 10-15 acres in size.

Caltrans had activated signs on Interstate 5 about the Ortega's closure.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation. Witnesses reported seeing a man intentionally setting fires in the area, but officials have not confirmed the reports.

The fire was the second in as many days for Orange County's open space areas. Crews were battling the Jim fire that broke out late Wednesday morning in Holy Jim Canyon in the Cleveland National Forest, just west of Lake Elsinore and Corona.

As of Thursday night, the blaze was mapped at 553 acres with 50 percent containment, fire officials announced.