A fast-moving wildfire accidentally sparked this week by heavy equipment in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County grew Wednesday to more than 22,000 acres, forcing evacuations, threatening communications equipment on Santiago Peak, shutting down roads, including part of Ortega Highway, and stretching firefighting resources thin in a region plagued by days of searing heat, authorities said.
CalFire officials reported early Wednesday, Sept. 11, that the Airport fire had swelled to 22,376 acres, racing through wildland in both Orange and Riverside counties, with no containment reported. Officials said the flames had crossed Ortega Highway, a main thoroughfare in the region, and were “actively impinging on structures in the area” but it was unclear how many structures were involved or to what degree they were damaged.
Several other roads also were closed, and temporary evacuation centers were set up in various spots in both Orange and Riverside counties for both people and animals that were potentially in harm’s way.
More than 600 firefighters were battling the flames, aided by helicopters and air tankers as first responders sought to protect homes and businesses throughout the area.
Authorities said the fire began Monday afternoon as Orange County public works crews were putting boulders in place to prevent access to vegetation. But a spark from the heavy equipment started a wildfire, which then spread uncontrollably. It was first reported just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern said.
Early Tuesday, the blaze was burning toward the north and the east in the direction of the Ortega Highway and Riverside County and away from Rancho Santa Margarita, Capt. Paul Holaday of the Orange County Fire Authority said. Later in the afternoon, the fire jumped Ortega Highway and caused several areas in Riverside to be under evacuation orders.
OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said there is a strain on personnel because of the several large fires raging in the region, including the Line fire in the San Bernadino National Forest and the Bridge fire in the Angeles National Forest, which are competing for resources.
Tal Hayes, fire chief for the Cleveland National Forest, said they are trying to survey damage to 36 cabins in Trabuco and Silverado Canyons.
There has been no damage to homes, Capt. Holaday said.
What caused the Airport fire?
The blaze was believed to have started unintentionally from the use of heavy equipment by an Orange County public works crew while placing boulders meant to replace barriers to restrict access to vegetation. It was first reported just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern said.
“The cause of the fire was a spark from heavy equipment,” McGovern said on Monday. “After placing a load of boulders, the operators began seeing smoke coming from the area of the loader’s basket.”
In eight hours, the blaze exploded to nearly 5,500 acres with no containment, burning east toward Riverside County. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued.
Overnight, the fire grew to an estimated 8,500 acres, and by mid-morning on Tuesday had blackened another 500 acres.
“Our objective is to keep it on this side of the main divide so it doesn’t go into Riverside (County),” Holaday said.
How are firefighters battling the fire?
Around 1,000 fire personnel were battling the blaze, aided by aircraft that have been making water drops continuously since the fire broke out.
“We have a really robust air attack going on today,” Holaday said.
The fire has followed the pattern of most major blazes over the years, fire officials said, which tend to break out near the 91 Freeway or Holy Jim Canyon and then move through other canyon communities.
“The fire is burning just like we predicted,” Holaday said.
While the conditions in the burn area are still hot and dry, the temperature has dropped 10 degrees or so compared to Monday, officials said, though the winds have picked up slightly.
On Monday, two firefighters suffered “heat-related injuries,” while a civilian also suffered an unspecified injury. All three were treated and released, officials said.
No injuries had been reported overnight or on Tuesday.
Fire officials say they are aware of 36 recreational cabins in Holy Jim and Trabuco canyons. They don’t believe anyone is in the area, but have been unable to get into the area to assess how much damage occurred.
Wesley McCombe, who said his cabin was burned down yesterday, questioned why fire retardant was not dropped on the area.
Santiago Peak is not only a visual icon for the region, it is home to communication towers for public safety, telecommunications and broadcasters. All-night fire-fighting efforts saved those towers.
On the heels of the Orange County Board of Supervisors declaring a local state of emergency in response to the Airport fire Tuesday, six Southern California lawmakers urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to do the same at the state level.In a letter to Newsom Tuesday afternoon, Reps. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills; Ken Calvert, R-Corona; Lou Correa, D-Anaheim; Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach; Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano; and Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said a “state of emergency” in Orange and Riverside counties would “permit expedited federal assistance to the impacted areas.”
“The Orange County Board of Supervisors has already declared a local State of Emergency, and state resources — combined with federal support — will help our communities respond and recover from this devastating fire,” the lawmakers wrote. “This would unlock federal support to suppress the fire and keep our communities safe.”
Newsom has already declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County for the Line Fire.
Airport fire evacuations
Evacuation orders were issued around 3 p.m. Monday for residents along Meander Lane and in the Robinson Ranch community. O’Neill Regional Park’s campgrounds were also closed.
See also: This map shows the location of the Airport fire burning in Trabuco Canyon
Evacuation warnings were issued by Cal Fire for an area in the Santa Anta Mountains in Riverside County east of the fire: The warning was for an area east of the Orange County line, west of the 15 Freeway, south of Bedford Motor Way and north of Ortega Highway.
School and road closures
Some school districts closed schools Tuesday with the fire burning, including all schools in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, officials said. The Corona Norco Unified School District closed Wilson, Temescal Valley and Todd elementary schools, while the Saddleback Valley Unified School District closed Robinson and Trabuco elementary schools.
Santa Margarita Catholic High School, in Rancho Santa Margarita above the canyon where the fire started, will not hold classes on Tuesday, Sept. 10, either. The campus was not under threat, but school officials said, “We are taking this precaution for the safety and well-being of our community,” noting that there were evacuation notices for nearby areas.
Road closures in Orange County included: Plano Trabuco Road and Joshua Drive, Plano Trabuco Road and Robinson Ranch Road, Antonio Parkway and Alas de Paz, Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads, Santa Margarita and Antonio parkways, Avenida Empresa and Santa Margarita Parkway and Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road.
A shelter was set up for evacuated residents at the Rancho Santa Margarita Bell Tour Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo, in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Animal shelters were also available, one for large animals at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, and the other in a Ralphs parking lot, at 31481 Santa Margarita Parkway.
