'Macy Fire' in Riverside County triggers mandatory evacuation orders

Fire crews in Riverside County were battling a fast-moving wildfire Thursday night that prompted officials to issue mandatory evacuations.  

The “Macy Fire” was first reported around 5:45 p.m. near the intersection of Orange and Macy streets in El Cariso, an unincorporated community in Lake Elsinore, according to a Riverside County Fire Department post on X, formerly, Twitter.  

Fire officials said the approximately 50-acre brushfire was burning at a rapid rate of spread and that additional equipment and crews had been requested.  

Just before 7 p.m., flames were able to jump Highway 74, prompting officials with the California Highway Patrol to shut down both directions of the highway between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore, City News Service reported.  

In an update at 8:30 p.m., officials reported that the fire had grown to 134 acres and was 0% contained.  

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for all properties: 

• South of Grand Avenue 

• East of Fairview Street 

• West of Highway 74 

Elsinore High School, located at 21800 Canyon Driver in Wildomar, was serving as a temporary evacuation center, officials said.  

A photojournalist with Inland News, a news video service, reported that at least three structures have been destroyed by the flames. KTLA has not yet confirmed that information with RCFD.

A night-flying helicopter, according to CNS, was requested to make water drops to help crews on the ground. Firefighting aircraft restricted to daylight hours were forced to leave the area.  

So far, no injuries have been reported. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.