What taxpayers need to know one year after Orange County workers started the devastating Airport Fire

It’s been one year since Orange County public works crews accidentally started a massive fire in Trabuco Canyon that would burn for 26 days and spread into Riverside County, engulfing more than 23,000 acres. It came to be known as the Airport Fire because of an aviation club nearby, and, in all, it injured 22 people, damaged 160 buildings and resulted in about 1,200 claims against Orange County totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

The county has already paid out around $39 million for more than 300 of those claims and is still in the process of negotiations for others. Orange County is insured up to $30 million, so the rest will have to come from the government's coffers. This comes as the county is implementing austerity measures, including hiring freezes and cutting vacant positions.

The big question still remains: How will the Airport Fire affect the services that Orange County residents have come to rely on?

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What's the backstory

LAist was the first to report that Orange County Public Works officials were alerted to high fire danger on Sept. 9, 2024, yet failed to take basic safety precautions. Crews accidentally started the fire as they were moving boulders to block off illegal paths and turnouts made by offroad vehicles along Trabuco Creek Road.

Records obtained by LAist show a supervisor had asked for a water truck to accompany the crew as they worked with heavy equipment that day to move large rocks, and the department considered doing so a “best management practice.”

But a water truck never made it to the scene that day. When workers noticed smoke coming from the basket of a truck loaded with boulders, they called 911 and used fire extinguishers at the scene in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire.

One of the workers later sent a message through Microsoft Teams that said “we f***ing started a fire.”

How will the county cover the claims?

Molly Nichelson, a spokesperson for the Orange County, said the government has paid out claims from the general fund so far. And the county has been reimbursed $25 million from insurance to cover some of those payments.

But, the county’s insurance coverage is only up to $30 million. Anything beyond that will come from the general fund.

What is the county’s general fund?

The general fund is the main operating fund — like your primary checking account that pays for your everyday expenses. Revenue for the fund comes from property taxes, payments residents make towards services, as well as fines and other sources.

The general fund is typically used to pay for government services, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County library system, parks, and street services, such as fixing pot holes and lighting.

How does Orange County’s insurance compare to LA County’s

L.A. County takes a different approach to insurance coverage. They put aside money to pay for claims up to $20 million, with insurance stepping in after that. L.A. County’s insurance policy is $35 million, meaning the government is on the hook for anything over $55 million. However, L.A. County’s insurance policies do not cover sexual harassment/assault claims or law enforcement misconduct claims. They have a separate liability trust fund to pay for that.

How to keep tabs on the Orange County Board of Supervisors

The Orange County Board of Supervisors meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Meetings start at 9:30 a.m.

Here’s how you can follow along:

• Attend in person: The board meets in the County Administration North, Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 400 W Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana.
• Listen to the meeting via phone: Call (866) 590-5055. Access code: 4138489
• Watch the live broadcast

To submit a comment, you can attend in person, dial in or submit a comment via email to response@ocgov.com.