No structures were immediately threatened by the so-called Jim Fire, according to the Orange County Fire Authority, which was assisting in the firefight along with Cal Fire.
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The United States Forest Service said the blaze began about 11:20 a.m. and was spreading at a moderate rate in Holy Jim Canyon. The containment was 0% as of 2 p.m.
The resources deployed against the flames included eight fire engines, two hand crews, two air tankers and two helicopters, officials said. One tanker was seen dumping a payload of bright red Phos-Chek on a burning hillside.
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The cause of the fire was unknown. Temperatures in the area were in the low 80s Wednesday afternoon, with a humidity of 10%, according to the National Weather Service.
A prescribed burn that had been previously scheduled near Long Canyon Road was canceled at around the time of the Jim Fire's ignition, according to the Forest Service.
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For information about the fire, the public can call the Cleveland National Forest's Trabuco Ranger District at (951) 736-1811.
DEVELOPING: More details will be added to this report as they become available.