Orange County Fire Authority officials are evacuating areas in Trabuco Canyon and Rancho Santa Margarita after a vegetation fire that started at 1:21 p.m. Monday grew to 1,900 acres nearly five hours later.
By 10 p.m. the fire increased to an estimated 5,432 acres.
By 6 a.m. Tuesday, the blaze spread to 8,510 acres, moving east towards Riverside, according to the CalFire website.
As of 10 p.m. Monday evening, officials have called for mandatory evacuations in parts of Rancho Santa Margarita’s Robinson Ranch in the face of what’s been dubbed the Airport Fire.
Homes in the Trabuco Highlands Homeowners Association are also under mandatory evacuation orders – along with the Trabuco Highland Apartment Complex.
According to the latest available situation report at 8 p.m. Monday, the fire was 0% contained.
At a Monday news conference, Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble said OC Fire Authority and the OC Sheriff’s Department have run multiple drills for fires like the Airport Fire.
“We do drills in anticipation for this type of event. So I hope that brings you a small amount of peace for what I believe is a considerable amount of anxiety,” Gamble said at the 7:30 p.m. news conference.
Sheriff’s officials are also calling for voluntary evacuations of residents living near Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop and Cook’s Corner.
More voluntary evacuations were called for overnight, including portions of Dove Canyon, Ortega Highway and Caspers Park, and a couple campgrounds in the area.
Multiple evacuation warnings have also been issued in Riverside County.
Click here for a live map of the evacuations.
At Monday night’s news conference, OCFA Deputy Chief of Operation TJ McGovern said OC Public Works staff accidentally started the fire Monday afternoon when a spark from heavy equipment happened as they were placing boulders to block off vegetation on Trabuco Creek road.
McGovern said by morning “we’re hoping to get some small number out on the containment,” which was 0% on Monday night.
OCFA officials said no buildings were damaged as of 7:30 p.m. Monday, adding the fire was moving away from homes on Monday night, noting wind wasn’t not an issue. They also said two firefighters were hospitalized from “heat related illnesses,” along with one person from smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, a shelter for large animals opened up at the Orange County Fairgrounds as air crews and firefighters try curbing the Airport Fire.
Gamble said the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter set up an evacuation center nearby to get animals from evacuated homes.
“They have volunteers there that are able to retrieve your animals from your home and they are doing it one at a time,” she said.
The OC Fairgrounds were also ready to take horses.
OC Supervisor Don Wagner, who represents the area, said residents shouldn’t wait for mandatory evacuation orders.
“If you’re under an involuntary evacuation order, please know those aren’t issued lightly,” he said during Monday night’s news conference. “There could be an evacuation order coming your way. That means that’s the time to get prepared.”
A temporary evacuation center was open at the Lake Forest Sports Park, which was slated to close at 10 p.m. Monday.
The overnight evacuation shelter is at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.
Wagner also said he spoke with Rep. Young Kim earlier, who pledged federal support.
“I will assure you that through the municipal level and on up … we are on this, doing what we can to protect life and limb in Orange County.”
The Airport Fire comes amid an intense weeklong heatwave that’s been beating down on Southern California, increasing the chances of wildfires.
It also comes after another wet winter for Southern California, which sees heightened vegetation growth – creating lots of fuel for brush fires.
Orange County isn’t alone in battling wildfires as the heatwave is expected to wrap up.
San Bernardino County is grappling with a roughly 23,000-acre fire as of Monday afternoon. There’s a host of mandatory evacuations for residents living near the wildfire.
Officials are also dealing with a roughly 900-acre fire near Camp Pendleton.
OCFA spokesman Steve Concialdi said the lack of winds and the help of several new OCFA helicopters and more than 1,000 firefighters on the scene made a big difference. Officials also said they expect reinforcements from nearby firefighters in the morning.
He also said the 2018 Holy Fire’s aftermath – what Concialdi called “the Holy Scars” – were helping keep the fire from spreading.
Concialdi said they were letting the fire go up the hill on Monday night, away from nearby homes.
“This team will work all night long for you.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Norberto Santana Jr. and Maximo Santana contributed to this story.