On Sunday afternoon, August 25, a 100-acre wildfire spread near Lake Elsinore in the area of ​​the Tenaja Truck Trail and the village of El Cariso, requiring evacuations and road closures, including along Ortega Highway in Orange and Riverside counties.

Firefighters from the Cleveland National Forest are battling the fire.

The fire started around noon on the Tenaja Truck Trail and spread to 44 acres. As of 1:45 p.m., the fire had spread to 100 acres. It could not be contained.

Map: Here the Tenaja fire rages near Lake Elsinore

An evacuation order is in effect in the Tenaja Truck Trail area, and an evacuation warning is in effect for the village of El Carissa. The Ortega Highway is closed in both directions, Cleveland National Forest authorities said shortly before 2 p.m. on X.

CHP logs indicated that westbound Highway 74 in Riverside County was closed at Grand Ave.

The evacuated areas include those south of Highway 74 and the Tenaja Truck Trail, as well as west of Highway 74, east of the Verdugo Trail and north of Cleveland Forest Road and Fox Spring Road, said Shane Reichardt, spokesman for Riverside County Emergency Services.

Evacuation warnings have been issued in many other locations, including areas north of the San Diego County line, south of El Cariso Road and South Main Divide Road, east of the Orange County line, and west of the Los Alamos Truck Trail.

According to RivCoReady, an evacuation center has been set up at Lakeside High School, 32593 Riverside Dr., Lake Elsinore.

Large animals that were evacuated can be taken to the San Jacinto Animal Shelter at 581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto, officials said. Small pets can be taken to the reception and grooming area at Lakeside High School.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.

Additional information, including details on evacuations and building vulnerabilities, will be added as it becomes available.

A “difficult” start to the wildfire season, even before the winds start