Falls Fire grows to 1,500 acres, 20 percent contained
A brush fire that has burned more than 1,500 acresin the Cleveland National Forest was 20 percent contained today.
The so-called Falls Fire was reported around 10 a.m. Monday about fivemiles west of Lake Elsinore and just south of Ortega (74) Highway. The fire,which was 1,416 acres as of this morning, prompted a mandatory evacuation orderfor a roughly 50-home development in Decker Canyon and for Lakeland Village, asuburb of Lake Elsinore.
The evacuation order was lifted late Monday night for Lakeland Villagebut Decker Canyon remains under evacuation, U.S. Forest Service spokeswomanVickie Wright said this morning.
The Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Lakeside High School inLake Elsinore. Basic provisions and shelter were available to all thoseaffected by the fire, officials said.
Wright said fire officials are hoping for full containment by Friday.The cause of the blaze is under investigation. As of this morning, no injurieshad been reported but, according to the Press-Enterprise, a few outbuildingswere damaged Monday.
By 3 p.m. Monday, the flames were in sight of Lakeland Village. Flamesalso reached Ortega Highway, prompting the California Highway Patrol to shutdown the entire 30-mile route from Lake Elsinore west to Antonio Parkway, justoutside San Juan Capistrano.
On Monday, public safety officials closed access to the El CarisoCampground off El Cariso and Main Divide roads, the Wildomar Off-HighwayVehicle Area and the California Wildland Firefighter Memorial.
Forest Service, Riverside County Fire Department and Cal Fire personnelwere conducting joint firefighting operations. Wright said 265 people and sixwater-dropping helicopters were working to contain the fire, and six tankeraircraft were on order.
