As the fire at the Trabuco Canyon airfield continues to intensify Tuesday afternoon, the blaze is threatening scientific, broadcasting and radio communications equipment on Santiago Peak.
The fire grew bigger and bigger during the nightfrom 5,400 acres to 9,333 acres on Tuesday afternoon with 0% curtailment.
The towers on Santiago Peak provide radio coverage to much of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties.
The equipment has both broadcast and two-way communications facilities on virtually every frequency band, including FM broadcast, VHF low and high band, UHF, 800/900 MHz and microwave.
The Orange County Fire Authority named it the Airport Fire after it started around 1 p.m. Monday at a remote-controlled aircraft airfield on Trabuco Creek Road. The flames quickly spread, burning through hillside vegetation to more than 5,400 acres within hours. Although they are growing, the flames continue to move away from homes.
Evacuations and road closures
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for areas along Ortega Highway, near Caspers Park, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has issued voluntary evacuation warnings for people living near:
- Roses Canyon Road
- Trabuco Canyon Road
- Trabuco Creek Canyon Road
- Trabuco Oak Avenue
- Joplin Loop
- Cook’s Corner
- Pigeon Gorge
- San Juan Springs, Quest Diagnostics, Lazy W and campsites
- El Cariso & Blue Jay Campground
- Silverado Gap
- Modjeska Gorge
The department has issued an evacuation order for the homes on Meander Lane, including:
- Robinson Ranch Homeowners Association
- Trabuco Hooglanden HOA
- Trabuco Highland apartment complex
Firefighters asked people to avoid the area so firefighters could respond effectively. Officers closed the following roads:
- 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
