Fire crews continued establishing containment lines around the Airport fire overnight, achieving 31% containment of the blaze by Monday morning, Sept. 16, authorities said.
The size of the fire has remained around 23,500 acres since authorities said forward progress was stopped Friday evening, Sept. 13, at which point containment was at 9%.
“Crews will continue to construct direct and indirect fire line, while scouting for additional opportunities for line construction,” authorities said. “Crews will engage the fire directly when possible, using the current window of favorable weather and improved fire-behavior conditions to our advantage.”
Airport fire destroys cabins in historic Holy Jim Canyon
The fire broke out about 1 p.m., Sept. 16, in Trabuco Canyon, when a county team using heavy equipment accidentally set it off.
The blaze quickly spread north and east, jumping the county line into Riverside County by Tuesday, Sept. 10, and destroying homes in communities along Ortega Highway. In all, 160 structures have been destroyed and 34 have been damaged, according to Cal Fire as of Sunday night, Sept. 15.
Airport fire destroys homes of 2 brothers, doors apart — ‘It was like a hurricane’
Twelve firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze, most due to heat-related illness in the first two days of the fire when temperatures were around 100 degrees or higher. Two civilians were also injured in the first two days, authorities said.
More than 20,600 structures remain threatened by the blaze, officials said.
Click here for updated Airport fire evacuation and road closure information.
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