Update: As of 11:45 a.m., fire officials say the Santiago fire has advanced to only about a half-mile from the Riverside County line, but no evacuations have been ordered in this county.

Flames would still need to travel some miles across through the Cleveland National Forest before it would become a threat to any largely populated areas in Riverside County. At that point, the Ortega Highway remains open.

Fire officials in Orange County said the blaze is headed in both a northeasterly and southern direction, which could send it toward the Glen Ivy Hot Springs and Lake Elsinore areas.

The blaze, which authorities have said was intentionally set by an arsonist, continues to rage across the Cleveland National Forest in Orange County.

"We are trying to hopefully stop it there," a spokeswoman with the Orange County Fire Authority said Friday morning.

Another fire official said some progress is being made because of positive changes in the weather and the ability to put more resources on the fire line. Along with about 1,100 firefighters assigned to the battle, there are four airtankers and 15 water-dropping helicopters fighting the blaze from above.

The fire has destroyed 27,000 acres and 14 homes since it started Sunday night. Firefighters have surrounded about 30 percent of the blaze.

In order to keep people in the Glen Ivy, Horsethief Canyon and Corona area informed, there will be a meeting headed up by two county supervisors at 4 p.m. today at Temescal Valley Elementary School, 22950 Claystone Ave. in Corona.

There is a $250,000 reward offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever set the Santiago fire. Anyone with information can call the arson tip line at (800) 540-8282.

Near Temecula

In the southern part of the county, the Poomacha fire in the Palomar Mountain area of San Diego County is still about 10 miles from the Riverside County line, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

That fire, which has burned 39,000 acres and is 35 percent surrounded, continues to bring a heavy layer of smoke to southern Temecula but poses no threat at this time, fire officials said.

No evacuations have been ordered in relation to that fire.

The Rice Canyon fire, which has destroyed much of the Fallbrook area, has charred 9,000 acres and was 40 percent surrounded as of Friday morning. It is still south of the Riverside County line and has not led to any evacuations in the De Luz area of the county.