The Airport Fire in the Trabuco Canyon area dramatically increased in size on Monday, prompting evacuations and the mobilization of more than 1,000 firefighters who were expected to work overnight to combat the blaze.
The fire, which ignited around 1:15 p.m. on Trabuco Creek Road near a remote-controlled airplane airport, rapidly expanded from 7 acres to over 2,000 acres within a few hours. It is progressing toward the area affected by the Holy Fire, which previously consumed more than 23,000 acres in 2018, according to officials.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for several communities in Trabuco Canyon on Monday.
Mandatory evacuations were enforced for residents in Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands, while others under evacuation warnings were advised to prepare to leave their homes. Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner urged residents not to delay their departure if they were under an involuntary evacuation order, emphasizing the seriousness of these directives.
Several roads were closed to facilitate fire containment efforts, including:
– Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road
– Plano Trabuco and Joshua Drive
– Plano Trabuco and Robinson Ranch
– Antonio and Alas de Paz
– Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek
– Santa Margarita and Antonio
– Avenida Empresa and Santa Margarita Parkway
Temporary shelter was made available at the Lake Forest Sports Park until 10 p.m. Monday, and a long-term care shelter was set up at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center in Rancho Santa Margarita.
For animals, a large animal shelter was established in Costa Mesa, while Mission Viejo Animal Services created a meet-and-reunite area in a local parking lot to assist pet owners. OC Animal Care also offered shelter services for other pets.