| Airport Fire | |
|---|---|
 The fire as seen from Lake Forest during the early hours of September 10, 2024 | |
| Date(s) |
|
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 33°40′01″N 117°33′58″W / 33.667°N 117.566°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 23,526 acres (9,521 ha; 37 sq mi; 95 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Non-fatal injuries | 19 firefighters, 2 civilians |
| Structures destroyed | 160 (34 damaged) |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Equipment use |
| Map | |
  General location of the fire in Greater Los Angeles  The general location of the fire in California | |
The Airport Fire was a wildfire that burned 23,526 acres (9,521 ha) in the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California in September and October 2024.[1][2] The fire destroyed 160 structures in Orange and Riverside counties and caused 21 non-fatal injuries. At its peak, 20,780 structures were threatened by the fire.
The fire was accidentally ignited on September 9, 2024, by Orange County Public Works employees conducting fire prevention measures in the unincorporated community of Trabuco Canyon. It spread towards the city of Rancho Santa Margarita and eastward into the Santa Ana Mountains, where it crossed over the ridge of Santiago Peak into Riverside County.
The Airport Fire forced mandatory evacuation orders in various Southern California communities, particularly in Lake Elsinore and along Ortega Highway where many structures were damaged or destroyed. The incident happened concurrently with the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County, straining available firefighting resources and creating a smoky, unhealthy air quality that reached as far as Las Vegas. California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the fires.
- ^ "Airport fire in OC's Trabuco Canyon quickly grows to 1,900 acres, evacuations ordered in Rancho Santa Margarita". Orange County Register. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Airport Fire". Cal Fire. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.