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Docs reveal $32M CalFire lawsuit against Orange County over Airport Fire
CalFire is suing Orange County for nearly $32 million over the September 2024 Airport Fire.
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David Swanson
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, is suing Orange County for nearly $32 million over the Airport Fire, according to recently uncovered documents.
Background: The Airport Fire burned for 26 days, burning more than 23,000 acres across Orange and Riverside counties in 2024. As a result, 22 people were injured, and 160 structures were damaged.
What do we know? CalFire filed the suit in September, according to court documents. The department is looking to recover fire suppression, investigation and administrative costs related to the fire, as well as legal fees.
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How much has the fire cost the county so far? The fire has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in damage claims filed against the county — $60 million of which already has been paid out. The county’s insurance covers up to $30 million, meaning remaining claim damages will be paid out from the county’s budget.
The suit names county workers: The lawsuit also named two O.C. Public Works employees, who CalFire claims started the fire while moving rocks in Trabuco Canyon. The county “failed to take reasonable precautions necessary to prevent the starting and spreading of fire,” the lawsuit says. The County of Orange and CalFire declined to comment.
What else have we learned? Messages between public officials obtained by LAist show that all three work crew supervisors and a manager at O.C. Public Works were alerted to high fire danger Sept. 9, 2024, hours before their crew accidentally started the Airport Fire. The full LAist investigation is here.
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
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