Flames from the Airport fire, which broke out in Trabuco Canyon near Rancho Santa Margarita on Monday afternoon, reached infrastructure atop Santiago Peak around mid-morning on Tuesday, authorities said.
The approximately 20 buildings and towers on the peak transmit signals across Southern California, including Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernadino counties. About half are owned by government agencies and public utility companies such as the U.S. Air Force, the Forest Service and Southern California Edison. The other half are privately owned, by companies such as Verizon Wireless and American Tower.
“The fire made a run up to Santiago Peak, and there’s been some damage to some of the communications towers and infrastructure,” Paul Holaday of the Orange County Fire Authority said. “We’re not sure how bad it is.”
All communications for police and fire in Orange County are intact. Fire personnel has been unable to assess the damage as there’s still active flames in the area.
The fire has consumed approximately 9,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, Holaday said. Authorities are concerned about the south side of the fire nearing Ortega Highway. Evacuation warnings have been issued for areas of Coto de Caza and Modjeska Canyon.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency in response to the Airport fire at its meeting Tuesday. The declaration will help with requests for addition sualport from other agencies and jurisdiction and later with cleanup. Officials said the county will seek state and federal assistance, including access to emergency funding and resources.
The proclamation, Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee said Tuesday, covers not only the current fire blazing through the canyons, but also the aftermath of the disaster.
“There is going to be certain risks when the vegetation is removed. It exposes the hillsides to subsidence and landslides, so it covers that as well,” Chaffee said. “The hazards that result as part of this and then the disposal of some of the debris is also covered. So it’s intended to anticipate some of the problems in future.”
