The Airport Fire burning in eastern Orange County is one of three brush fires continuing to rage in Southern California Tuesday as hot temperatures and dry conditions challenge firefighting crews.
The blaze in Trabuco Canyon grew in size overnight to 9,000 acres and by Tuesday afternoon, it reached 9,333 acres and remains 0% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings for thousands remain in place in the Rancho Santa Margarita area, as Trabuco Canyon is north of the city, in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.
Just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, authorities expanded mandatory evacuation orders to include homes in Riverside County.
"This is an order by law enforcement to leave immediately," said officials with Cal Fire , or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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The Orange County Fire Authority dubbed it the Airport Fire after it started around 1 p.m. Monday near a remote-controlled airplane airport on Trabuco Creek Road. The flames quickly grew, burning through vegetation on the hillside to more than 5,400 acres within hours. Although growing in size, the flames continue to travel away from homes
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As the Airport Fire exploded in size, Orange County Fire Authority deployed around 1,000 personnel, including hand crews, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft, to extinguish the fire before it reached homes.
Two OFCA firefighters were treated for heat-related injuries before being taken to a local hospital. One civilian was also hospitalized after suffering from smoke inhalation. All are expected to recover, according to firefighters.
During a press conference Monday evening, Cleveland National Forest District Ranger Darrell Vance said that the fire was burning towards the footprint of the Holy Fire in 2018, which torched more than 23,000 acres and destroyed nearly 20 structures.
"Obviously, we don't want to make predictions on what we think it's going to do, but we have high hopes that that's gonna assist us with the prior burn scar," Vance said.
While not fully confirmed, officials say that they believe the blaze was unintentionally started by public works crews that were using heavy equipment in the area Monday afternoon.
Tuesday morning, fire authorities said the scars from earlier fires in the mountains are slowing progress as the blaze moves away from homes towards the Cleveland National Forest.
Evacuations and road closures
The Orange County Sheriff's Department issued a voluntary evacuation warning for people living near:
Silverado CanyonModjeska CanyonRose Canyon Road Trabuco Canyon Road Trabuco Creek Canyon Road Trabuco Oaks Drive Joplin Loop Cook's CornerDove CanyonOrtega Highway, San Juan Springs, Caspers Park, Quest Diagnostics, Lazy W & CampgroundsEl Cariso & Blue Jay CampgroundThe department issued an evacuation order for homes on Meander Lane, including:
Robinson Ranch HOATrabuco Highlands HOATrabuco Highland Apartment Complex
Mandatory evacuation orders are also in place for areas along Ortega Highway, near Caspers Park.
Firefighters asked people to avoid the area to allow firefighters to respond effectively. Deputies closed the following roads:
Ortega Highway between Grand Avenue and NicholsPlano Trabuco and Joshua DrivePlano Trabuco and Robinson RanchAntonio and Alas de PazTrabuco Canyon and Trabuco CreekSanta Margarita and AntonioAvenida Empresa and Santa Margarita ParkwayAuthorities established a long-term care and reception shelter at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center at 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688. A large animal shelter has been established at 88 Fair Drive in the City of Costa Mesa.
For those in Riverside County, an evacuation center is available at Santiago High School, located at 1395 E. Foothill Parkway in Corona. Animals can also be brought to that location.
A temporary evacuation site has also been set up at the Lake Forest Sports Complex, located at 28000 Vista Terrace in Lake Forest.
Riverside County impact
Late Monday, Riverside County Fire Department also issued evacuation warnings for people living on the other side of the Santa Ana Mountains. By 2 p.m. Tuesday, some of those warnings were upgraded to mandatory evacuation orders.
People under mandatory orders to leave include those in RVC zones 1725, 1798, 1865, 1866, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1999, 2074, 2142, 2143 — all of which can be viewed in a searchable map here . Other areas being evacuated immediately including the following.
North of Riverside County/San Diego County line; South of Lake Elsinore near base of Ortega Highway; East of Orange County/Riverside County line; West of South Main Divide Road/Grand Avenue
Areas still under voluntary evacuation warnings include the following.
RVC zones 1153, 1265, 1267, 1269, 1395, 1396, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1400, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1405, 1521, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1627, 1724
Lake Elsinore Unified School District announced that all school campuses would be closed on Tuesday due to the intense smoke lingering over the area, with the fire raging just over the Santa Ana Mountains.
"This decision is made out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our students, staff, community and first responders," said a statement from LEUSD officials. "We understand the impact this may have on our families and want to assure you that we will keep you informed throughout the day as the situation develops. Our primary focus is the safety of our school communities."
Many residents took to social media to report the raining ash in the area, extending as far south as Temecula on Monday evening.
The latest evacuations, warnings and other information for those affected can be found here .
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