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, causing evacuations and road closures, including along Ortega Highway in Orange and Riverside counties.

Cleveland National Forest firefighters battle the Tenaja Fire.

Flames consume brush as the Tenaja Fire rages near Lake Elsinore on Sunday, August 25. (Photo by OnScene.TV)

The Tenaja Fire started around noon on August 25 on the Tenaja Truck Trail. (Courtesy of Watch Duty)

A helicopter drops water on the Tenaja Fire near Lake Elsinore on Sunday, August 25. (Photo by OnScene.TV)

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Flames consume brush as the Tenaja Fire rages near Lake Elsinore on Sunday, August 25. (Photo by OnScene.TV)

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The fire broke out around noon on the Tenaja Truck Trail and spread to 44 acres. By 1:45 p.m., the fire had spread to 100 acres, and by 4:15 p.m., it was estimated at 99.5 acres and 25% contained, fire officials said.

Map: Here the Tenaja fire rages near Lake Elsinore

A mandatory evacuation was ordered for the Tenaja Truck Trail area and an evacuation warning was issued for the village of El Cariso.

The Ortega Highway was closed in both directions, Cleveland National Forest authorities said shortly before 2 p.m. on X. It was reopened a few hours later to people with proof of residency, but it remained closed to other traffic.

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.

There were evacuation warnings in many other places.

According to officials with RivCoReady, the Riverside County Emergency Management Agency, an evacuation center was set up at Lakeside High School, 32593 Riverside Dr. in Lake Elsinore, where light refreshments were offered Sunday afternoon.

The disaster management department works with the Red Cross.

If the fire rages through the night, the department will provide beds and showers to evacuated residents and connect them with other county resources, including mental health services, Reichardt said.

Small pets can be taken to the Lakeside High School Animal Shelter. Large animals that have been evacuated can be taken to the San Jacinto Animal Shelter at 581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto.

The cause of the fire was investigated.

Editors Andrea Klick and Micaela Ricaforte contributed to this story.

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