No growth was reported in the Airport fire overnight, but the fire appeared to have destroyed homes in Riverside County and , according to authorities and news reports.
The blaze hopped Ortega Highway and raced into Riverside County Tuesday, Sept. 10, as flames continued to push eastbound toward Lake Elsinore, causing road closures around the main thoroughfare as more than 600 firefighters continued battling the blaze, aided by helicopters and air tankers.
Here’s what we know:
- Acres burned: 22,376
- Containment: 0%
- Structures burned: Yes, but number unknown
- Homes/People evacuated: Meander Lane and Robinson Ranch, Residents in communities along Ortega Highway
- Fire Personnel: More than 600
- Cause of fire: Accidental due to heavy equipment
- When it started: Monday, Sept. 9
Damage from the fire
“The fire impacted the (Riverside County) communities along Ortega Highway yesterday and there have been homes that were damaged and/or destroyed,” OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said Wednesday morning. “We have damage assessment teams that will be going through all areas of this fire today and over the next few days assessing any potential damage to structures.”
reported several homes and vehicles in the El Cariso Village neighborhood near Lake Elsinore were burned to the ground overnight. An exact number of structures damaged or destroyed was not immediately known.
Concialdi said improving weather conditions will help firefighters.
“We’re confident the containment number will grow today,” he said. “With the weather cooling down, that helps us extinguish hotspots and get crews into the area so we can suppress any fire along the fire’s edge, or the perimeter of the fire.”
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The assessment teams would also look into potential damage to some 36 recreational cabins in the Holy Jim and Trabuco Canyon areas, Concialdi said.
The fire also Tuesday, threatening communications equipment, authorities said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and Wednesday morning announced he secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to “help ensure the availability of vital resources to Riverside County to assist with the costs of suppressing the Airport Fire.”
What caused the fire?
The Airport fire was first reported about 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, an area used by the Trabuco Flyers Club, authorities said. The cause of the fire was deemed unintentional, as Orange County public works crews were putting boulders in place to prevent access to vegetation when a spark from the equipment started the fire and spread uncontrollably soon after, Deputy Chief TJ McGovern of the Orange County Fire Authority has said.
In eight hours, the fire grew to 5,500 acres. Thanks to high temperatures and low humidity, the fire exploded to more than 22,000 acres in less than 48 hours.
The fire started near Rancho Santa Margarita, but has been burning north and east, away from the inland city, though areas near Rancho Santa Margarita were under evacuation orders or warnings.
Injuries
Six firefighters were injured on Tuesday, Sept. 10, during the firefight, Concialdi said, bringing the total number of firefighter injuries to eight. All but one of were heat-related illness, the captain said, with the one suffering minor burns.
Two civilians have also been injured during the fire, he said, including a woman Tuesday who suffered burn injuries and was treated at a burn center. A second person suffered smoke inhalation Monday.
Evacuations
Concialdi urged residents to heed evacuation orders, especially along Ortega Highway.
“We have rapid growth in some of these areas,” Concialdi said. “That’s why we recommend the residents evacuate when orders are given so we don’t have any potential injuries or loss of life.”
In Orange County, evacuation orders remained in place for residents on Meander Lane and in the Robinson Ranch community. In Riverside County, areas west of Lake Elsinore along Ortega Highway are under evacuation orders.
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Closures
- Ortega Highway is closed east of Nichols Institue to Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore,
- Plano Trabuco and Joshua Drive,
- Antonio and Alas de Paz,
- Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek,
- Santa Margarita and Antonio parkways,
- Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road.
OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said Tuesday that two other large fires, the in the San Gabriel Mountains and the in the San Bernardino Mountains, are straining personnel as they compete for resources. Federal grants had also been secured to help fight both of those fires.
Tal Hayes, fire chief for the Cleveland National Forest, said firefighters are attempting to survey the damage to 36 cabins in Trabuco and Silverado Canyons, but it was unknown if they had been able to do so yet. Holy Jim is a remote, historic community near Trabuco Canyon.
Firefighters should get some relief Wednesday, Sept. 11, with lower temperatures, though the high in Lake Elsinore is still forecast to be about 89 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
