LAKE ELSINORE – (INT) – It make take several days or longer to tame the ‘Holy’ fire as it roars through heavy brush in the Cleveland National Forest along the Riverside-Orange County line.

It erupted early Monday afternoon of unknown cause sending up a massive plume of smoke that rose to 20,000 feet above Southwest Riverside County. Pushed by onshore winds, the flames consumed at least two cabins in Holy Jim Canyon and swept into nearby Trabuco Canyon.

A huge 747 aerial tanker made retardant drops hoping to stop the flames at a ridgeline separating Orange and Riverside counties. But, triple-digit heat and single-digit humidity are fueling the terrain-driven fire. It covered 1,200 acres within the first 4-hours and had expanded to 4,000 acres late Monday night.

The mountainous area has not burned since 1980.

There are few buildings in the fire’s path, but radio transmitter facilities are situated atop nearby 4,600 foot high Santiago Peak.

Evacuations were ordered in Holy Jim Canyon, Trabuco Canyon Recreation Residence Tract, Blue Jay and Falcon Campground areas.

Two firefighters have been overcome by heat.

A smoke advisory is in effect for parts of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through Wednesday.

Story Date: August 7, 2018