The fast moving Airport fire, near Rancho Santa Margarita Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, swelled to more than 9,000 acres by mid-morning on Tuesday, fire officials said.
The fire was still 0% contained. Containment is the percentage of the blaze’s perimeter that officials believe won’t be expanded by flames, stopped either by natural barriers, such as rocks or a water body, or by firefighters’ work.
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.
As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, there was no immediate threat to structures, the fire captain added.
Here’s what we know:
- Acres burned: 9,000
- Containment: 0%
- Structures burned: 0
- Personnel: 1,000 fire personnel aided by aircraft
What caused the Airport fire?
The blaze was believed to have been set unintentionally by heavy equipment from 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. 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 blaze’s 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.
, it is home to communication towers for public safety, telecommunications and broadcasters. All-night fire-fighting efforts saved those towers.
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:
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.
Staff writer Jonathan Lansner contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
