Fire At Airport: Contained Or Still Raging?

The Airport Fire, a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres in the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California, has been contained. The fire, which began on September 9, 2024, and was caused by a spark from heavy equipment used by a public works employee, destroyed 160 structures, damaged 34, and threatened 20,780. Two civilians and 20 firefighters were injured, with no reported fatalities. Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted, and repair efforts are ongoing.

The Airport Fire was a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres in Southern California

On September 9, the first day of the fire, the Orange County Sheriff's Department enforced mandatory evacuation orders in the Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands neighborhoods of Rancho Santa Margarita, the closest city to the fire's origin point. The blaze grew from 1,900 acres to 19,028 acres and spread into Riverside County, threatening over 10,000 structures in both counties and prompting new evacuation orders for 45 rural zones in the eastern Santa Ana foothills near Lake Elsinore and Temescal Valley.

A large animal shelter was established at 88 Fair Drive in the City of Costa Mesa, and residents were advised to register for emergency alerts via text, email, or telephone. The fire produced a large pyrocumulus cloud, worsening the air quality in the immediate area and nearby population centers in Orange and Riverside counties. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory in Southern California and rated the air quality as "hazardous", the worst possible rating on its scale.

Firefighters made significant progress in containing the fire, and by September 13, mandatory evacuations in Rancho Santa Margarita were lifted. Firefighters increased containment through mop-up efforts, and by September 16, the fire was 19% contained. The fire was fully contained by October 6, 2024, and all evacuation orders and warnings were lifted.

The fire was accidentally ignited by a public works employee

The Airport Fire, a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres in the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California, was accidentally ignited by a public works employee. The fire began on September 9, 2024, at around 1 pm in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, and was fully contained by October 6, 2024.

On the day the fire started, the Orange County Sheriff's Department enforced mandatory evacuation orders in the Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands neighbourhoods of Rancho Santa Margarita, the closest city to the fire's origin point. The blaze spread rapidly, growing from 1,900 acres to 19,028 acres in just one day, and threatening over 10,000 structures in Orange and Riverside counties.

The fire was caused by a spark from heavy equipment used by a public works employee conducting fire prevention measures in the unincorporated community of Trabuco Canyon. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Deputy Chief TJ McGovern stated that "after placing a load of boulders, the operators began seeing smoke coming from the area of the loader's basket."

The Airport Fire forced thousands of residents to evacuate and caused significant damage to the area. A total of 160 structures were destroyed, and 34 were damaged. There were also 21 non-fatal injuries reported, including two civilians and 19 firefighters. Firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire, and by September 13, they had increased containment and were able to reduce the mandatory evacuation area.

By October 7, 2024, all evacuation orders and warnings had been lifted, and the fire was declared fully contained. The temporary flight restriction that was initiated at the beginning of the fire was also removed. However, infrastructure repair work continues, and commuters are advised to expect delays along Highway 74 and other affected areas.

20,780 structures were threatened, 160 were destroyed, and 34 were damaged

The Airport Fire, a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres (9,521 hectares) in Southern California in September and October 2024, threatened 20,780 structures, destroyed 160, and damaged 34. The fire was accidentally ignited on September 9, 2024, in Trabuco Canyon, a remote-controlled airplane airport in the unincorporated community of Trabuco Canyon, by Orange County Public Works employees conducting fire prevention measures.

On its first day, the fire threatened the city of Rancho Santa Margarita, and mandatory evacuations were enforced in the Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands neighborhoods. The blaze quickly grew, spreading eastward into the Santa Ana Mountains and crossing into Riverside County. By September 10, the fire had grown to 19,028 acres and threatened over 10,000 structures in Orange and Riverside counties, prompting new evacuation orders for 45 rural zones in the eastern Santa Ana foothills near Lake Elsinore and Temescal Valley.

The fire continued to burn and spread, and by September 13, Cal Fire reported that 160 structures had been destroyed and 34 damaged. Fire authorities acknowledged several instances of structure damage and loss, and damage assessment teams were working to compile a full report. The fire also caused power outages and affected transportation, with roads and highways closed due to the fire and evacuation orders.

The Airport Fire produced a large pyrocumulus cloud, worsening the air quality in the immediate area and nearby population centers. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory, rating the air quality as "hazardous." The fire burned concurrently with other fires in the region, including the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County, creating a combined cloud over the Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire regions.

Firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire, and by September 16, they had achieved 19% containment. They employed various strategies, including constructing fire lines, using aerial support to drop fire retardant, and patrolling the fire's perimeter. By October 6, the fire was 100% contained, and all evacuation orders and warnings had been lifted. The fire's impact highlighted the importance of wildfire prevention and response, and it served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by wildfires in California and the need for continued preparedness and coordination among various agencies.

There were 22 injuries reported, with no fatalities

The Airport Fire, a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres in the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California, resulted in 22 injuries but no fatalities. The fire, which began on September 9, 2024, was unintentionally sparked by heavy equipment used by a public works employee. It burned 23,526 acres and threatened 20,780 structures, destroying 160 and damaging 34.

There were two civilian injuries and 20 firefighter injuries reported. The civilian injuries included one person with an unknown medical condition and another who suffered burn injuries. The firefighters' injuries were mostly heat-related, with eight firefighters injured in a rollover crash while returning from a 12-hour shift working on the fire.

The fire caused mandatory evacuations in various Southern California communities, particularly in Lake Elsinore and along the Orange County portion of Ortega Highway. A temporary evacuation point was set up at the Lake Forest Sports Complex in Lake Forest, CA. Large animal shelters were also established in the area to accommodate evacuated animals.

Firefighters worked diligently to contain the fire, and by October 6, 2024, the Airport Fire was 100% contained. Their efforts included constructing fire lines, aerial support with aircraft dropping fire retardant, and patrolling the fire's perimeter. Hazardous tree mitigation and fire suppression repair efforts also played a crucial role in managing the fire and its aftermath.

Fire suppression repair efforts are ongoing, with hazardous tree mitigation almost complete

As of October 6, 2024, the Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon, Southern California, was 100% contained. The wildfire burned 23,526 acres, destroyed 160 structures, and damaged 34 more. Two civilians and 20 firefighters were injured. The fire was accidentally ignited on September 9, 2024, by Orange County Public Works employees carrying out fire prevention measures in Trabuco Canyon.

The fire produced a large pyrocumulus cloud, worsening the air quality in nearby Orange and Riverside counties. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory and rated the air quality as "hazardous". The fire also burned concurrently with the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County, creating a combined cloud over Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

The Airport Fire forced mandatory evacuations in several Southern California communities, particularly in Lake Elsinore and along the Orange County portion of Ortega Highway. All evacuation orders and warnings have now been lifted, but commuters are warned to expect delays due to ongoing infrastructure repair along Highway 74. Several roads off the Ortega Highway in or near the fire area in Riverside and Orange Counties remain closed.

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