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, Sept. 12.
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.
Airport fire destroys cabins in historic Holy Jim Canyon
“If it does move down the hill, it gives firefighters time because (there) 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.”
Firefighters were placing a priority on protecting the communication towers on Santiago Peak on 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.
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 many of the 36 or so cabins had been burned to the ground.
In Riverside County, homes burned in communities along Ortega Highway starting Tuesday night, and fire officials were sending damage-assessment teams into the areas to get numbers; those figures were not available as of Thursday morning.
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.
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 90 or so horses were evacuated and being housed at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Temporary evacuation centers included: the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita; Temescal Canyon High School, 28755 El Toro Road, Lake Elsinore; and Santiago High School, 1395 E. Foothill Parkway, 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
Ten firefighters have been injured battling the blaze: Seven have suffered heat-related illness, one suffered minor burns, and two suffered unknown minor injuries.
Two civilians were also injured, officials said: One suffered smoke inhalation after the fire started Monday, and the following day a woman suffered burns and was treated at a burn center.
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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