The County of Orange has received the first claim over losses from the Airport fire that has destroyed a reported 160 structures and damaged another 34.
The fire broke out in Trabuco Canyon on Sept. 9; an OC Public Works crew using heavy equipment unintentionally sparked the blaze, according to early reports from authorities. The fire spread quickly and the following day crested over into Riverside County, destroying vegetation and structures, including cabins and homes, along the way.
Containment of the fire reached the halfway point as of Friday, according to authorities. It is unclear how many of the structures destroyed are homes.
County Counsel Leon Page declined to comment on whether the county is liable under law for the damaged or destroyed structures or if the county has insurance to cover disasters such as the Airport fire. A claim is generally a required precursor before a lawsuit could be filed against a government agency.
Mikhail Trubchik of Laguna Hills filed a claim with the county for $2.3 million over the loss of his property in El Cariso Village near Lake Elsinore.
“My house, guest house and a five-car, stand-alone garage were burned and a total loss due to Airport Fire caused by Orange County Public Works employees,” Trubchik wrote in his claim against the county.
Trubchik said in an interview he considers himself one of the lucky ones because the home that burned down was not his primary residence and he owns another property. Some of his neighbors, however, have lost their only homes, he said.
“Some people are hiring attorneys. I thought I would file in more of a reasonable claim. This is below replacement cost,” Trubchik said, adding that he is only asking for the costs of construction. “The average cost of construction for an average non-custom home in Southern California is $550 per square foot. I (asked for) $450 a square foot, and I’m not claiming any reimbursement for any loss of personal property or anything else. I’m just trying to have a simple claim, reasonable claim, and avoid legal costs on both sides.”
A second claim the county has received asks for the reimbursement of $1,043 for a three-night hotel stay during the mandatory evacuation orders.
Lawyers from two law firms, Schroeder Loscotoff Stevens LLP and Grotefeld Hoffmann, representing unnamed insurance companies also sent potential claim notice letters to the county. The letters request the county preserve any evidence related to the Airport fire.
No additional claims had been filed to the county as of Friday afternoon, Sept. 20, according to the Clerk of the Board.
The claims form, which the instructions detail must be mailed or delivered to the board clerk in Santa Ana, says claims related to personal injury or property damage have to be filed within 6 months and all other loss claims within one year.
