Ortega Highway Closed In Both Directions Due To Airport Fire

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A major thoroughfare between Orange and Riverside counties closed Tuesday due to the massive Airport Fire.

State Route 74 (Ortega Highway) is closed in both directions between Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore and the Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute entrance in unincorporated San Juan Capistrano.

"Only residents will be allowed in/out of the affected area," according to the Orange County Fire Authority. "There is an evacuation warning in effect for the area that could be changed to an evacuation order as needed."

There is no indication of when the highway will reopen.

Evacuation warnings expanded Tuesday to include eastern reaches in Orange County and several areas in Southwest Riverside County. See the lastest evacuation updates here. The link contains information about evacuation shelters for humans and animals.

As of late Tuesday morning, the Airport Fire had burned more than 9,300 acres with zero containment. So far, two firefighters and one civilian were injured in the blaze. No structures have been lost.

Read more about the fire here, including information about the suspected cause of the blaze.