Mold Remediation in Orange, CA

A fast-moving wildfire accidentally sparked this week by heavy equipment in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County grew Wednesday to more than 22,000 acres, forcing evacuations, threatening communications equipment on Santiago Peak, shutting down roads, including part of Ortega Highway, and stretching firefighting resources thin in a region plagued by days of searing heat, authorities said.

CalFire officials reported early Wednesday, Sept. 11, that the Airport fire had swelled to 22,376 acres, racing through wildland in both Orange and Riverside counties, with no containment reported. Officials said the flames had crossed Ortega Highway, a main thoroughfare in the region, and were “actively impinging on structures in the area” but it was unclear how many structures were involved or to what degree they were damaged.

Several other roads also were closed, and temporary evacuation centers were set up in various spots in both Orange and Riverside counties for both people and animals that were potentially in harm’s way.

More than 600 firefighters were battling the flames, aided by helicopters and air tankers as first responders sought to protect homes and businesses throughout the area.

Authorities said the fire began Monday afternoon as Orange County public works crews were putting boulders in place to prevent access to vegetation. But a spark from the heavy equipment started a wildfire, which then spread uncontrollably. It was first reported just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern said.

Early Tuesday, the blaze was burning toward the north and the east in the direction of the Ortega Highway and Riverside County and away from Rancho Santa Margarita, Capt. Paul Holaday of the Orange County Fire Authority said. Later in the afternoon, the fire jumped Ortega Highway and caused several areas in Riverside to be under evacuation orders.

OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said there is a strain on personnel because of the several large fires raging in the region, including the Line fire in the San Bernadino National Forest and the Bridge fire in the Angeles National Forest, which are competing for resources.

Tal Hayes, fire chief for the Cleveland National Forest, said they are trying to survey damage to 36 cabins in Trabuco and Silverado Canyons.

There has been no damage to homes, Capt. Holaday said.

The blaze was believed to have started unintentionally from the use of heavy equipment by an Orange County public works crew while placing boulders meant to replace barriers to restrict access to vegetation. It was first reported just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern said.

“The cause of the fire was a spark from heavy equipment,” McGovern said on Monday. “After placing a load of boulders, the operators began seeing smoke coming from the area of the loader’s basket.”

In eight hours, the blaze exploded to nearly 5,500 acres with no containment, burning east toward Riverside County. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued.

Overnight, the fire grew to an estimated 8,500 acres, and by mid-morning on Tuesday had blackened another 500 acres.

“Our objective is to keep it on this side of the main divide so it doesn’t go into Riverside (County),” Holaday said.

Firefighters monitor the Airport Fire from a ridge near Porter Ranch in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Around 1,000 fire personnel were battling the blaze, aided by aircraft that have been making water drops continuously since the fire broke out.

“We have a really robust air attack going on today,” Holaday said.

The fire has followed the pattern of most major blazes over the years, fire officials said, which tend to break out near the 91 Freeway or Holy Jim Canyon and then move through other canyon communities.

“The fire is burning just like we predicted,” Holaday said.

While the conditions in the burn area are still hot and dry, the temperature has dropped 10 degrees or so compared to Monday, officials said, though the winds have picked up slightly.

On Monday, two firefighters suffered “heat-related injuries,” while a civilian also suffered an unspecified injury. All three were treated and released, officials said.

No injuries had been reported overnight or on Tuesday.

Fire officials say they are aware of 36 recreational cabins in Holy Jim and Trabuco canyons. They don’t believe anyone is in the area, but have been unable to get into the area to assess how much damage occurred.

Wesley McCombe, who said his cabin was burned down yesterday, questioned why fire retardant was not dropped on the area.

Santiago Peak is not only a visual icon for the region, it is home to communication towers for public safety, telecommunications and broadcasters. All-night fire-fighting efforts saved those towers.

On the heels of the Orange County Board of Supervisors declaring a local state of emergency in response to the Airport fire Tuesday, six Southern California lawmakers urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to do the same at the state level.In a letter to Newsom Tuesday afternoon, Reps. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills; Ken Calvert, R-Corona; Lou Correa, D-Anaheim; Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach; Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano; and Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said a “state of emergency” in Orange and Riverside counties would “permit expedited federal assistance to the impacted areas.”

“The Orange County Board of Supervisors has already declared a local State of Emergency, and state resources — combined with federal support — will help our communities respond and recover from this devastating fire,” the lawmakers wrote. “This would unlock federal support to suppress the fire and keep our communities safe.”

Newsom has already declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County for the Line Fire.

Evacuation orders were issued around 3 p.m. Monday for residents along Meander Lane and in the Robinson Ranch community. O’Neill Regional Park’s campgrounds were also closed.

See also: This map shows the location of the Airport fire burning in Trabuco Canyon

Evacuation warnings were issued by Cal Fire for an area in the Santa Anta Mountains in Riverside County east of the fire: The warning was for an area east of the Orange County line, west of the 15 Freeway, south of Bedford Motor Way and north of Ortega Highway.

Some school districts closed schools Tuesday with the fire burning, including all schools in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, officials said. The Corona Norco Unified School District closed Wilson, Temescal Valley and Todd elementary schools, while the Saddleback Valley Unified School District closed Robinson and Trabuco elementary schools.

Santa Margarita Catholic High School, in Rancho Santa Margarita above the canyon where the fire started, will not hold classes on Tuesday, Sept. 10, either. The campus was not under threat, but school officials said, “We are taking this precaution for the safety and well-being of our community,” noting that there were evacuation notices for nearby areas.

Road closures in Orange County included: Plano Trabuco Road and Joshua Drive, Plano Trabuco Road and Robinson Ranch Road, Antonio Parkway and Alas de Paz, Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads, Santa Margarita and Antonio parkways, Avenida Empresa and Santa Margarita Parkway and Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road.

A shelter was set up for evacuated residents at the Rancho Santa Margarita Bell Tour Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo, in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Animal shelters were also available, one for large animals at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, and the other in a Ralphs parking lot, at 31481 Santa Margarita Parkway.

Staff writers Jonathan Lansner, Hanna Kang and Michael Slaten contributed to this report.

An Orange County, California district supervisor has resigned from his post and agreed to plea guilty to federal corruption charges.

Andrew Do, now the former the District 1 supervisor for Orange County, will plead guilty to a felony federal charge for accepting more than $500,000 dollars in bribes, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a news release.

Do accepted bribes to vote in favor of giving more than $10 million in COVID funds to a charity affiliated with one of his daughters, prosecutors said.

The 62-year-old former supervisor was part of the five-member Orange County Board of Supervisors, which controls a $9 billion annual budget.

Paul Meyer, the attorney representing Do, told USA TODAY on Tuesday that "out of respect for the legal process, no statement is appropriate at this time.

"However, it is appropriate to convey Andrew Do's sincere apology and deep sadness to his family, to his constituents in District One and to his colleagues,” Meyer said.

What is Do pleading guilty to?

In the plea agreement obtained by USA TODAY, Do is admitting to accepting $500,000 in bribes beginning in 2020 in exchange for voting in favor of sending millions of dollars to the Viet America Society.

“The money he misappropriated and accepted as bribe payments was taken from those most in need – older adults and disabled residents. Our community deserved much better,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.

Officials also said that the charity used the funds from the county to pay a business identified in court records as “Company #1.” The company received more than $3 million in payments over an almost three-year period.

After the charity increased the payments to “Company #1” to $108,000 a month, the unnamed company then began paying Rhiannon Do, the supervisor’s daughter, $8,000 a month, prosecutors say.

By February of this year, officials say she had already been paid $224,000. Moreover, Andrew Do in his plea agreement admitted that the unnamed company transferred more than $380,000 to an escrow company that his daughter used to purchase a home in Tustin, California.

Do also admitted to receiving other bribes disguised as payments to other companies that were then funneled to his other daughters.

“No one is above the law in Orange County and these charges should serve as a powerful warning to elected officials everywhere that actions have consequences and justice will be swift and it will be decisive,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.

Once Do enters his plea, he could face a maximum of five years in federal prison.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties is 31% contained Monday as the blaze has burned 23,519 acres in Southern California.

The Orange County Fire Authority said a cold front is expected to bring light showers and cooler temperatures. This, along with increased humidity, is expected to decrease fire activity.

“We’re being helped by the weather and that weather will continue for a couple of days so we’re making good progress," said Orange County Fire Authority Operations Section Chief Albert Ward.

Crews couldn't access an area previously blocked by a rock slide. However, the southern edge of the fire is still marked by “very rugged inaccessible country” that will require helicopters to bring crews in or a long hike, Ward said Sunday.

Despite favorable weather, there is still fire risk above 4,000 feet in elevation, which remains dry. Smoldering vegetation up high can roll downhill and ignite unburned vegetation, the fire authority said.

Accounts to Follow:

Fire Map

This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity (this may take a few seconds to load):

Evacuation Map

Find information on evacuation shelters and road closures HERE.

An evacuation map for Orange County and Riverside County is available below.

Wildfire Preps

If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.

WATCH: What you need to know to prepare, stay safe for wildfires

The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for lvocal warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.

Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.

Read more: Are you wildfire ready? Here's what to do to prepare for fire season.

PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.

What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.

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