A brush fire that started in Orange County has rapidly expanded, pushing toward Riverside County and forcing evacuation orders for several neighborhoods near Lake Elsinore. The fire, dubbed the Airport Fire, has grown to 9,300 acres since it began around 1 p.m. Monday near Trabuco Canyon Road. With zero containment as of Tuesday afternoon, the blaze is still spreading due to dense vegetation and challenging terrain, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and warnings in multiple areas.
On Tuesday, evacuation orders were issued for areas north of the San Diego County line, east of the Orange County line, and south of Lake Elsinore near Ortega Highway. An evacuation center has been established at Santiago High School in Corona, with large animals being sheltered at Jurupa Valley Animal Shelter.
The fire has closed Ortega Highway between Grand Avenue and Nichols Institute, and multiple schools have shut down due to the proximity of the blaze and deteriorating air quality. The Corona-Norco Unified School District closed Wilson, Temescal Valley, and Todd elementary schools, while all Lake Elsinore Unified School District schools were also closed. A college and career fair scheduled for Tuesday was canceled.
According to officials, the fire was accidentally sparked by a county work crew placing boulders near Trabuco Creek Road. Crews attempted to extinguish the initial flames but were unsuccessful, leading to the fire spreading rapidly. Firefighting teams are relying on aerial resources, including helicopters that can drop 1,000 gallons of water, to battle the flames in the steep and difficult terrain.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for areas along Ortega Highway, Robinson Ranch community, and Rancho Santa Margarita, with voluntary evacuation warnings affecting several nearby regions. While there have been no reports of injuries or structural damage, firefighting efforts are ongoing as the blaze threatens Santiago Peak and vital broadcast towers used by media outlets and government agencies.