Officials: Ortega Highway Fire Started by Vehicle Crash

A brush fire that grew to five acres and closed part of Ortega Highway for several hours overnight was caused by a vehicle fire that spread to vegetation, according to Riverside County Fire officials.

The Macy fire, located near the Lookout Restaurant at 32107 Ortega Highway, was reported about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ortega Highway was closed in both directions from 10:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. Thursday from North Main Divide to Grand Avenue. No structures were damaged and the fire was 100 percent contained as of 3 p.m.

Two people were transported with injuries Wednesday night after their car went down an embankment of Ortega Highway in an accident officials believe caused the brush fire. According to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, a man identified as Nicolas Patrick, 24, of Costa Mesa asked for help at a residence in the 15600 block of Half Moon Drive, located at the base of the mountain, directly below where the fire was burning.

Patrick was suffering from burns to his body. According to police, Nicolas was driving on Ortega Highway with his mother, Jaki Patrick, 58, of Pocatello Idaho, when his vehicle went over the edge. The collision ignited the brush fire, according to authorities.

Jaki Patrick was located near the vehicle and both accident victims were transported to a regional medical center. Nicolas Patrick was later transported to a regional burn unit.