OC Fire Authority officials say the Gibby Fire has stopped spreading at 250 acres and shelter in place orders have been lifted as much of Ortega Highway remained closed Wednesday evening.
As of 4:48 p.m., officials said the fire spread to 216 acres.
In an update posted to social media shortly after 7:30 p.m., OC Fire Authority officials said the fire stopped spreading at 250 acres.
“I’m happy to say that we can call forward progress stopped on the Gibby Fire. Crews will continue to work the fire the next few days and we’ll continue monitoring things,” said OCFA Incident Commander Cheyne Maule in a video posted to X.
The Gibby Fire began off Ortega Highway and Gibby Road in unincorporated Rancho Mission Viejo on Wednesday afternoon – shutting down much of the highway.
“All shelter-in-place orders have been lifted. Ortega Highway will remain closed from Gateway to Grand in Riverside County,” reads an OCFA post on X.
OC Fire Authority Officials are urging people to avoid the area.
In a video posted on X, Maule reported that crews are making progress on containment from the ground and air. Crews are working with CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, CHP, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Parks to combat the vegetation fire.
Officials for California Highway Patrol said they are assisting the Orange County Fire Authority with road closures.
According to the OCFA X account, no homes in the area are currently threatened by the area as of 3 p.m.
The cause of the vegetation fire is currently under investigation.
This story has been updated to show shelter in place orders have been lifted and the fire stopped spreading.
Sara Leon is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. You can reach her at sleon7903@gmail.com.
