Firefighters Battling Forest Fire Near Ortega Highway

UPDATE at 5 P.M.: The Falls Fire continues to burn out of control in the hills above Lake Elsinore. It has now covered 500 acres and Ortega Highway remains closed. Evacuations continue in Decker Canyon.

Smoke from the Falls Fire near Ortega Highway is visible from Railroad Canyon Road in Lake Elsinore.

Riverside County Fire officials are responding to assist U.S. Forest Service firefighters in battling a fire that has covered 175 acres in the Cleveland National Forest west of Lake Elsinore.

The Falls Fire is located near Ortega Highway (Highway 74) and Morrell Canyon. No injuries have been reported and no structures damaged, but a mandatory evacuation order is in place for Decker Canyon, according to Jake Rodriguez of the U.S. Forest Service.

A voluntary evaction order also has been issued for Rancho Capistrano. As of 1:30 p.m. today, 20 engines, 12 hand crews, six air tankers and 5 helicopters were fighting the blaze.

Roidriguez said there is no estimate on containment of the fire and the cause is under investigation. Smoke rising from behind the hills above Lake Elsinore can be seen from all parts of Menifee.