By Beatriz E. Valenzuela | [email protected], Keith Sharon | [email protected] and Richard K. De Atley | San Bernardino Sun PUBLISHED: August 8, 2018 at 6:12 am | UPDATED: August 8, 2018 at 3:30 pm Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for several communities near the Holy fire on the border of Orange and Riverside counties, and officials said the blaze expanded by about 50 percent Wednesday, to roughly 6,200 acres. Also Wednesday, officials announced the arrest of a man who they believe set the fire. Residents of McVicker Canyon, Rice Canyon, Horsethief Canyon, Glen Eden, El Cariso Village, Sycamore Creek, Rancho Capistrano, and the Ortega Highway corridor from the Lookout restaurant to Nichols Institute were ordered to evacuate about 2 p.m. Authorities also announced the closure of the Ortega Highway, also known as Highway 74, from Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore to Nichols Institute in Orange County. Those in the Ortega corridor must travel westbound only. The fire is expected to spread south, east and north with limited spread to the west, the U.S. Forest Service said. There is potential for the fire to spread downslope into Lake Elsinore. The fire, announced as at 4,129 acres early Wednesday had now burned 6,200 acres, officials announced at an afternoon news conference. A man was taken into custody late Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, is expected to appear in court on Thursday. Hundreds… [Read full story]
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