Cooler temperatures and higher humidity continued helping firefighters battle the Airport fire overnight and into Thursday morning, as the fire’s acreage remained at 23,140 acres, authorities said.
“It allows our firefighters to build those containment lines quicker and it prevents the heat exhaustion from setting in as these firefighters are working long hours in sometimes steep, rocky terrain,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said Thursday morning.
The fire was still at 5% containment, but firefighters planned to use dozers to construct fire lines on the backside of Robinson Ranch and behind Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza all the way to Ortega Highway, Concialdi said.
“If it does move down the hill, it gives firefighters time because it will be a firebreak,” Concialdi said. “It will slow dramatically and we will extinguish it there.
“The goal would be to extinguish the fire along those lines before the fire reaches homes,” he added.
Firefighters were placing a priority on protecting the communication towers on Santiago Peak Thursday and utility companies have been working up there the last two days to protect that entire area, the captain said.
In the northwest area, the fire jumped Harding Truck Trail, Concialdi said, but it was burning “extremely slow” and no structures were threatened. Residents in Modjeska Canyon “will still be able to see smoke at times,” he added.
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Here’s what we know
- Acres burned: 23,140
- Containment: 5%
- Structures burned: Exact number unknown
- Homes/People evacuated: 5,500 homes affecting more than 19,000 residents
- Fire Personnel: More than 1,000
- Cause of fire: Unintentional due to heavy equipment
- When it started: Monday, Sept. 9
Damage from the fire
Cleveland National Forest officials confirmed Wednesday that some of the cabins in Holy Jim Canyon had been destroyed. Some residents who went up into the canyon to survey the damage said 27 of the 34 cabins had been burned to the ground.
In Riverside County, homes burned in communities along Ortega Highway starting Tuesday night and OCFA was sending damage assessment teams into the areas to get numbers, but those figures were not available as of Thursday morning.
The fire also reached Santiago Peak Tuesday, damaging some communications equipment, though communication towers used by OCFA and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department were still working as of Wednesday, OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said. It was unclear if other equipment had been seriously damaged.
What caused the fire?
Orange County public works crews working in the area of Trabuco Canyon about 1 p.m. Monday unintentionally sparked the blaze while moving boulders to form a barrier to the vegetation, OCFA officials have said. The flames spread uncontrollably soon after.
By Monday night, the fire was 5,500 acres and by Wednesday morning, the blaze had grown to more than 22,000 acres, officials said.
The fire started near Rancho Santa Margarita, but by Wednesday morning had jumped Ortega Highway and into Riverside County toward Lake Elsinore, prompting evacuation orders for communities along Ortega Highway and warnings for areas in Lake Elsinore.
Evacuations
Evacuation orders were still in effect in Orange County for residents along Meander Lane and in the Robinson Ranch Community. Orders were also in place in Riverside County for areas west of Lake Elsinore along Ortega Highway.
Evacuation warnings were in effect in Orange County canyon areas, including Coto de Caza and parts of Rancho Santa Margarita. In Riverside County, warnings were in place for residents east of the Orange County line, north of the San Diego County line, south of Bedford Motor Way and west of the 15 Freeway.
Some 93 horses were evacuated and were being housed at the Orange County Fairgrounds and evacuation centers were established at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Temescal Canyon High School, 28755 El Toro Rd., Lake Elsinore and Santiago High School, 1395 E. Foothill Pkwy., Corona.
Mission Viejo Animal Services was at the Bell Tower Community Center to help with sheltering pets in Orange County. In Riverside County, the Jurupa Valley Animal Shelter and Murrieta Equestrian Center were also assisting as animal shelters.
Injuries
A total of 10 firefighters have been injured battling the blaze, with some briefly hospitalized, fire officials said. Of the firefighters, seven have suffered heat-related illness, one suffered minor burns and two suffered unknown minor injuries.
Two civilians were also injured, officials said. One person suffered smoke inhalation after the fire started Monday and the following day, a woman suffered burns and was treated at a burn center, Concialdi said.
Road 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.
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