Airport Fire burns tens of thousands of acres in Orange County

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A evacuated home in flames at El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Fire burns at the CA-74 Ortega Highway nearby El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

TRABUCO CANYON, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: The Airport Fire burns on a hill beyond palm trees on September 9, 2024 in Trabuco Canyon, California. The fast-moving Orange County brush fire prompted evacuations in the area while scorching 1,900 acres and injuring three people amid a heat wave in Southern California.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A car and house burn at El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A Firefighter walks in a evacuated home in flames at El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A Firefighter walks in a evacuated home in flames at El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: El Cariso Village in flames as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A Firefighter works in a evacuated home in flames at El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire burns on September 10, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fast-moving Airport Fire that started on September 9 in Orange County grew up to more than 10,000 acres by this afternoon, fire officials said.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A plume rises from the Airport Fire burning in Orange County on September 10, 2024 as seen from Los Angeles, California. Multiple large wildfires are burning in Southern California amid an intense heat wave in the region.

TOPSHOT - The Airport Fire burns in the hills above homes in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, on September 9, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024.

TOPSHOT - Smoke from the Airport Fire billows above homes in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, on September 9, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024.

TOPSHOT - Fire personnel gather to fight the Airport Fire as it gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States' second biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

Smoke billows from the Airport Fire in Rancho Santa Margarita, California on September 9, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024. A blaze burning out of a control near Los Angeles sparked mandatory evacuations as it tore through swathes of tinder-dry California countryside around popular tourist spots.

A vehicle is engulfed in flames in El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire continues to burn near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. The fast-moving Airport Fire in Orange County has consumed more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares) since it was started accidentally on Monday afternoon by workers operating heavy equipment.

A firefighter stands in El Cariso Village during the Airport Fire near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. The fast-moving Airport Fire in Orange County has consumed more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares) since it was started accidentally on Monday afternoon by workers operating heavy equipment.

A house is threatened as the Airport Fire gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States' second biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

A firefighting helicopter is seen during the Airport Fire near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. The fast-moving Airport Fire in Orange County has consumed more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares) since it was started accidentally on Monday afternoon by workers operating heavy equipment.

A mountainside becomes engulfed in flames as the Airport Fire gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024.

A mountainside becomes engulfed in flames as the Airport Fire gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States' second biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

Fire personnel gather to fight the Airport Fire as it gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Wildfires fueled by soaring temperatures in the western United States have scorched thousands of acres, forcing hundreds of families to flee, US officials said September 9, 2024. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States' second biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

A Cleveland National Forst sign is seen as a mountainside becomes engulfed in flames as the Airport Fire gains ground near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. Three separate blazes have erupted around the United States' second biggest city, fueled by a punishing heat wave and fanned by gusting winds.

A structure is engulfed in flames in El Cariso Village as the Airport Fire continues to burn near Lake Elsinore, California, on September 10, 2024. Out-of-control wildfires surrounding Los Angeles continued to grow on September 10, forcing families to evacuate and blanketing the sky with choking smoke. The fast-moving Airport Fire in Orange County has consumed more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares) since it was started accidentally on Monday afternoon by workers operating heavy equipment.