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Firefighters Battle Brush Fire in Orange County
Crews are battling a fast-moving brush fire that prompted shelter-in-place orders and closed State Route 74, officials said.
- On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the Gibby Fire broke out near Ortega Highway in Rancho Mission Viejo, forcing emergency closures of State Route 74 as crews battled the fast-moving blaze.
- Starting just after 2 p.m. at about three acres, the vegetation fire expanded rapidly, prompting a unified response from the Orange County Fire Authority, Cal Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service.
- Officials later downgraded the total acreage to just over 220 acres, while issuing shelter-in-place orders for residents in Rancho Carrillo and Casper Wilderness Park.
- Firefighters stopped the fire's forward progress at about 6 p.m., although California Highway Patrol officers maintain closures on SR-74 at Gateway in Rancho Mission Viejo and westbound at Grand in Lake Elsinore.
- As the cause remains under investigation, OCFA Incident Commander Chief Cheyne Maule urged drivers to avoid the area, noting no homes were threatened and the smoke column has lifted.
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Gibby Fire Cuts Through 216 acres of South OC, Shuts Down Ortega Highway
Crews on ground and in the air are working to contain the fire that has burned 216 acres, closing down large portions of the Ortega Highway. Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate
Firefighters battle brush fire in Orange County
Firefighters are battling a fast-moving brush fire off Ortega Highway in unincorporated Rancho Mission Viejo Wednesday afternoon. The Gibby Fire was first reported at 2:02 p.m. and has grown to 450 acres as of 4 p.m., Orange County Fire Authority reports. Crews are attacking the fire from the ground and air using firehawks, fixed-wing aircraft, [...]
·Los Angeles, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 22%
C 56%
R 22%
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