No growth was reported in the Airport fire overnight, but the fire appeared to have destroyed homes in Riverside County and continued to burn with no containment, according to authorities and news reports.
The blaze hopped Ortega Highway and raced into Riverside County Tuesday, Sept. 10, as flames continued to push eastbound toward Lake Elsinore, causing road closures around the main thoroughfare as more than 600 firefighters continued battling the blaze, aided by helicopters and air tankers.
CBS LA reported several homes and vehicles in the El Cariso Village neighborhood near Lake Elsinore were burned to the ground overnight. An exact number of structures damaged or destroyed was not immediately known.
The fire also reached Santiago Peak Tuesday, threatening communications equipment, authorities said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and Wednesday morning announced he secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to “help ensure the availability of vital resources to Riverside County to assist with the costs of suppressing the Airport Fire.”
The Airport fire was first reported about 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, an area used by the Trabuco Flyers Club, authorities said. The cause of the fire was deemed accidental, as Orange County public works crews were putting boulders in place to prevent access to vegetation when a spark from the equipment started the fire and spread uncontrollably soon after, Deputy Chief TJ McGovern of the Orange County Fire Authority has said.
In eight hours, the fire grew to 5,500 acres. Thanks to high temperatures and low humidity, the fire exploded to more than 22,000 acres in less than 48 hours.
The fire started near Rancho Santa Margarita, but has been burning north and east, away from the inland city, though areas near Rancho Santa Margarita were under evacuation orders or warnings.
OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said Tuesday that two other large fires, the Bridge fire in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Line fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, are straining personnel as they compete for resources. Federal grants had also been secured to help fight both of those fires.
Tal Hayes, fire chief for the Cleveland National Forest, said firefighters are attempting to survey the damage to 36 cabins in Trabuco and Silverado Canyons, but it was unknown if they had been able to do so yet. Holy Jim is a remote, historic community near Trabuco Canyon.
Firefighters should get some relief Wednesday, Sept. 11, with lower temperatures, though the high in Lake Elsinore is still forecast to be about 89 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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