Brush fire breaks out near Lake Elsinore

A brush fire that broke out today in the ClevelandNational Forest quickly spread to 175 acres and prompted the evacuation of asecluded residential development as well as a campground.

The blaze was reported at around 10 a.m. about five miles west of LakeElsinore and just south of the Ortega (74) Highway.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jake Rodriguez told City News Service thatthe Decker Canyon area was under a mandatory evacuation order as flamesapproached the roughly 50-home development.

Public safety officials also closed access to the nearby El CarisoCampground off El Cariso and Main Divide roads, the Wildomar Off-HighwayVehicle Area and the California Wildland Firefighter Memorial.

USFS and Riverside County Fire Department personnel were conductingjoint operations. Rodriguez said 20 engine crews and six inmate hand crews,backed by six air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters, were working tocontain the wildfire.

“We have pretty decent access right now,” he said. “The winds arepicking up a little bit, so we have to watch that.”

He described the brush as “medium.”

It was too early for containment projections, Rodriguez said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.