Tenaja Fire in Lake Elsinore is largest of three fires in area

Smoke from the Tenaja Fire was seen from the Menifee and Murrieta areas. (Photo courtesy of Murrieta Fire)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Ortega Highway was closed in both directions and evacuations were ordered in the hills above Lake Elsinore Sunday because of a fast-moving fire, authorities said.

The Tenaja Fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. south of Ortega off Tenaja Truck Trial, according to Cal Fire. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in that area and an evacuation shelter was set up at Lakeside High School.

The fire eventually covered 100 acres, but Captain John Clingingsmith of Cal Fire said no injuries were reported and no structures burned. The forward rate of spread had stopped by about 6:30 p.m. Ortega Highway was later re-opened and the evacuation orders were lifted.

Locally, a vegetation fire was reported about 5:45 p.m. at Southshore Drive and Holland Road. It was reported by Cal Fire as about a half-acre in the open field across from Southshore Elementary School and south of the Thousand Trails RV Park. There was no danger to the RV park, school or surrounding neighborhoods and the fire was quickly put out.

At about the same time, the Park Fire was reported at Park Avenue and Menlo Avenue in Hemet. Originally, the fire was described as 5 to 7 acres "in medium brush with a slow to moderate rate of spread."

The fire eventually grew to 15.5 acres, but forward progress was then stopped. Air resources were released and ground crews began cleanup activity.

A fire in an open field across from Southshore Elementary School was put out quickly. (Photo by Kristen Spoon)