Overview of the Southern California Airport Fires and Damage
The CaseyGerry Wildfire team is closely watching the Airport Fires in Southern California. These fires are impacting Orange County and Riverside County. First reported on Monday, September 9, 2024, the fire has already ravaged over 23,000 acres.
The fire began in Trabuco Canyon. This area is in eastern Orange County. It sits at the base of the Santa Ana Mountains, inside the Cleveland National Forest.
The fire burned down almost all 36 cabins in the historic Jim Canyon located in the Cleveland National Forest. In Lake Elsinore, several homes and cars in the El Caruso Village area were burned down. By mid-morning on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the fire had reached the top of Santiago Peak, damaging communication towers.
Cause of the Airport Fire: Equipment Spark and Public Reaction
The fire was caused by a spark from heavy equipment. This equipment was used by the Orange County Public Works crews to move boulders blocking the road at Trabuco Creek Road. The fire was accidental and not planned.
Deputy Chief TJ McGovern from the Orange County Fire Authority said the crew saw smoke from the equipment. This happened after they unloaded some boulders. They attempted to put out the fire using multiple fire extinguishers.
Many people are upset. They say the City of Orange County was careless for doing this work on one of the hottest days.
The OC city crew was working on moving the boulders in temperatures reaching the high 90s.
That week, a heatwave was happening. There were warnings for extreme heat and increased wildfire risks on that day.
The fire started around 1:00 PM that afternoon.
An article by the Orange County Register titled, Reckless, Stupid, Incompetent: OC Work that started Airport fire questions, blasted, stated “Why in earth would anyone, let alone the OC PUBLIC WORKS, be using construction equipment during a Red Flag day in the wild lands?”
The city crew blocked a road that people used for illegal off-roading. They did this at the request of the property owners. The owners had faced damage to their property.
Steve Palmer, a former firefighter from Villa Park, said the crew acted carelessly. He believed they were foolish to use heavy equipment in such hot weather. He continued, “It’s triple digits and you’re going to use a big piece of steel equipment to hit rocks? That always causes sparks,” he said. “Who wouldn’t know that or assume that?”
Airport Fire Status and Evacuation Information
As of Friday, the 13th of September, 2024, the Airport Fire has inflicted damage on 23,494 acres and led to 12 injuries. The fire is currently 8% under control.
Residents in the area should stay alert for any updates and evacuation orders. The following places are ready to serve as evacuation shelters:
- RSM Bell Tower Community Center – 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita
- Temescal Canyon High School – 28755 El Toro Road
- Lake Elsinore and Santiago High School – 1395E Foothill Pkwy, Corona
CaseyGerry’s Legal Support for Wildfire Victims
The CaseyGerry law firm continues to monitor the fires and remains available for legal questions.
Our firm has a strong history of helping people who have been hurt by fires. These fires are often caused by the negligence of others, including large utility companies.
If you would like to speak to a fire attorney to explore your legal rights, please contact us at (619) 313-5892.
