Orange County Fire Authority officials announced Wednesday evening that the Gibby Fire, which ignited earlier in the day off Ortega Highway and Gibby Road in unincorporated Rancho Mission Viejo, has ceased its forward spread at 250 acres. In a significant update for local residents and commuters, all previously issued shelter-in-place orders have been lifted. However, authorities emphasized that a substantial section of Ortega Highway continues to remain closed due to ongoing operations related to the fire.
The declaration that the fire’s forward progress had stopped came shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. OCFA Incident Commander Cheyne Maule conveyed this positive development in a video shared on social media, where he stated that "forward progress stopped on the Gibby Fire." Maule further reported that firefighting crews are actively engaged in making progress on containment efforts, utilizing resources from both the ground and the air. Despite the success in halting the spread, OCFA officials indicated that crews would continue to actively work the fire over the coming days and maintain vigilant monitoring of the situation to ensure complete control.
The specific closure on Ortega Highway extends from Gateway to Grand, affecting travel into Riverside County. Officials from the California Highway Patrol confirmed their involvement, stating they are providing assistance to the Orange County Fire Authority specifically with these crucial road closures. Both agencies are urging the public to avoid the affected area to allow emergency personnel to operate safely and effectively.
The Gibby Fire originally began sometime Wednesday afternoon. Initial reports earlier in the day, specifically by 4:48 p.m., stated the fire had spread to 216 acres. This figure was subsequently updated in the evening, confirming the fire had reached 250 acres before its expansion was halted. A positive note for residents was shared via the OCFA X account, which reported that as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, no homes in the vicinity were currently threatened by the vegetation fire.
A wide array of emergency and land management agencies are collaborating closely to manage the incident. These include personnel and resources from the Orange County Fire Authority, CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and Orange County Parks. The precise cause of this vegetation fire is presently under investigation by the relevant authorities.
