TRABUCO CANYON (CNS) – Containment of the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties is 95%, Cal Fire reported, and is nearly fully contained Thursday.
“We’re doing everything we can while it’s cooler to construct those fire lines, improving them and making sure they’re tested by the wind,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
The fire authority “flew in some hot shot” firefighters recently to camp out in inaccessible terrain to stay on the blaze, Concialdi said.
“They’re camping out there so it doesn’t take hours commuting back and forth because it’s inaccessible terrain,” Concialdi said.
Authorities are also imploring drone operators to avoid the area, Concialdi said. Drones force aircraft to land to avoid an in-flight collision, Concialdi said.
On Monday, Edison officials used a helicopter to remove damaged power poles and lines and replace them, so that will force intermittent shutdowns of traffic on Ortega Highway, Concialdi said.
If anyone sees a downed power line they are advised to treat it as if it were live because generators and the sun can re-energize a downed line, Concialdi said.
The reopening of Ortega Highway has led to a great deal more traffic, so firefighters asked drivers to be careful of firefighting crews in the area.
The fire, which started at 1:21 p.m. on Sept. 9, has burned 23,519 acres, destroyed 160 structures, damaged 34 others and resulted in 15 injuries, according to Cal Fire. Of the 15 injured, all but two were firefighters who suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze, many of them heat- related.
On Sept. 19, eight firefighters were injured when a transport truck carrying an Orange County Fire Authority hand crew swerved and rolled over on the northbound Foothill (241) Toll Road in Irvine as they were heading back to the Airport Fire command post after completing a 12-hour shift on the fire line.
Four crew members remain hospitalized in stable to critical condition while four others were treated and released, authorities said.
“Thoughts and prayers of Airport Fire Unified Command and all assigned incident personnel are with the firefighters involved in this accident,” Cal Fire said in a statement on its website.
Meanwhile, Orange County’s Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong Friday reissued an emergency declaration as crews continued to make progress in the battle against the flames, which will help keep state funding available to help with the costs.
Most evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted in Orange County. All evacuation orders and warnings in Riverside County were lifted Saturday. Residents can go to go.genasys.com/11hh53 to determine whether their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings. Returnees were urged to use caution in re-entering the area because fire and utility resources were still around. Water quality and response recovery information was available at rivcoready.org/recovery @RivCoNow.
An evacuation center is located at Foothill Ranch Library, 27002 Cabriole Way. Pets were also being accepted at that location. Large animals were being housed at Orange County Fairgrounds, Los Alamitos Race Course and Nohl Ranch Saddle Club at 6352 E. Nohl Ranch Road in Anaheim.
The following road closures were in effect in Orange County:
— Trabuco Canyon Road and Trabuco Creek Road;
— El Toro Road and Live Oak Canyon Road;
— Ortega Highway at Nichols Institute.
A series of other “soft closures” remained in place, allowing access for residents. Full details on closures were available at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/9/9/airport-fire.
The Airport Fire began near Trabuco Canyon Road in the area of the remote-controlled airplane airport, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said. Officials said the fire was sparked by the county public works crew using heavy equipment. The cause was deemed accidental.
Fire officials estimate the fire will be fully contained by lines of cleared vegetation Thursday.
Some 1,988 personnel were involved in the firefight, including 73 crews, 80 engines, 25 dozers, 34 water tenders and 17 helicopters.
Legal claims are beginning to trickle in to the county regarding the cause that sparked the blaze. Authorities have said it started when an Orange County Public Works crew was removing boulders.
Mikhail Trubchik, 40, said his San Juan Capistrano home was destroyed in the fire and has filed a claim for $2.3 million. He said the blaze destroyed his house, guest house and a five-car garage.
Fred and Diane Neubauer of Trabuco Canyon filed a claim for $1,043.75 for hotel expenses when they were evacuated from the area.
Two law firms have also sent letters to the county about a potential claim that requests a preservation of evidence.
The Airport Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California. The Line Fire had burned 39,232 acres in San Bernardino County and was 83% contained, while the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties had burned 54,878 acres and was at 97% containment.
Cal Fire officials said Gov. Gavin Newsom has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency “to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppressing the Airport Fire.”
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