5 Things To Know About The Airport Fire

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — Firefighters were making steady progress Monday battling the massive Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties, where 23,519 acres have been charred with containment at 31 percent.

Cooler temperatures helped firefighters make progress battling the blaze, and helicopter water drops on Santiago Park helped extinguish flames there on Monday.

However, officials said that downed power lines and poles continue to pose a hazard for firefighters and the public. Authorities warned that generators and solar power could still energize some of the downed power lines.

Firefighters were working with Caltrans and utility companies along Ortega Highway to track down and put out hot spots and fix hazards. There was no word on when the highway will reopen.

The blaze ignited in Trabuco Canyon last week before charging over the Santa Ana Mountains and toward Lake Elsinore, triggering countless evacuation warnings and orders and forcing multiple road closures across Orange and Riverside counties.

Here are five things to know about the blaze as of Monday afternoon:

1. The fire destroyed more than 100 structures in its path and injured 14 people

There is some discrepancy regarding the number of structures destroyed or damaged by the Airport Fire.

According to a late Monday afternoon update from Cal Fire, 160 structures were destroyed in the blaze and another 34 damaged. The figures include residential, commercial and other structures.

Orange County Fire Authority, the lead agency on the blaze, reported different numbers. OCFA Capt. Steve Conciadi said Monday afternoon that 120 homes and three businesses were destroyed in the fire. Another 11 homes and 23 structures were damaged, he reported.

The OCFA figures include Orange and Riverside counties, according to Conciadi, who said he could not provide details on where the bulk of the damage occurred.

The fire ripped through Trabuco Canyon in Orange County before charging eastward and burning across Decker Canyon and El Cariso Village in Riverside County. The blaze continues to threaten communities west of Lake Elsinore city limits and unincorporated Temescal Valley.

Fire authorities confirmed in the early days of the fire that some recreational cabins were lost in the blaze.

Twelve firefighters and two civilians were hurt in the Airport Fire — all of the injuries were minor, and all of the victims were released from the hospital, Conciadi said.

2. Evacuation warnings and closures remain in place

Some evacuation orders were downgraded Monday in Riverside County, including for residents along a portion of the Ortega Highway. Residents on the western edge of Murrieta who were forced to evacuate from their Santa Rosa Plateau communities — including La Cresta, Tenaja, Highlands, Santa Rosa West, and Meadow Oaks — learned late Monday afternoon that they were no longer under an evacuation of any kind.

Residents can visit https://go.genasys.com/11hh53 to determine if their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.

Evacuation centers for humans and animals remain open in Orange and Riverside counties. Full details are available here.

Many road closures are expected to remain in place. Find an updated list here.

3. The fire was likely caused by Orange County Public Works workers

The Airport Fire began at about 1 p.m. Sept. 9 near Trabuco Canyon Road in the area of the remote-controlled airplane airport, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said.

Officials said the fire was sparked by a county public works crew using heavy equipment. The cause was deemed accidental.

According to investigators, the equipment was being used to replace barriers out in the area to restore a pathway, Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern said during a Monday news conference.

A spark from the equipment resulted in a fire that the two employees were unable to put out, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

4. The fire is one of three burning in Southern California

The Airport Fire broke out during a sweltering Southern California heat wave while several other brush fires exploded across the Southland.

The largest wildfires currently burning include the Line Fire, which broke out Thursday, Sept. 5 and scorched a little over 39,000 acres by Monday, Sept 16 in San Bernardino County. The massive forest fire forced the evacuations of the Mountain towns of Running Springs and Arrow Bear. It is currently 42 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

In San Gabriel Canyon in Los Angeles County, the 54,690-acre Bridge Fire has been burning since Sept. 8 with 11 percent containment. Smaller brush fires broke out across the San Fernando Valley Monday, but were quickly contained.

5. Cooler weather has been aiding the containment of the Airport Fire

The spread of the brutal Airport Fire slowed significantly Thursday, Sept. 12 thanks to lower temperatures, firefighters said.

"The weather has been great with cooler temperatures, the marine layer and the higher, relative humidity," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

Light showers and drizzle were forecast for Monday night into Tuesday morning. Officials said crews were having "notable success in increasing containment" in areas such as Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village. The forecast was favorable for the next few days as well.

According to the National Weather Service light rain could return Wednesday through Friday.

City News Service contributed to this report.