California Wildfire Scales Mountain, Puts ‘Critical Infrastructure’ At Risk

A wildfire that ignited in southern California on Monday has scaled a mountain and put the antenna farm atop it at risk of burning.
The Airport Fire started in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County on Monday afternoon when public works crews were working to dissuade public access to a fire-sensitive area, KABC reported. Firefighting crews immediately began an aggressive attack when the fire was only 7 acres, the Orange County Fire Authority said, but dry, hot conditions have spurred the flames to 8,500 acres in less than 24 hours. Despite crews’ best efforts, the fire is 0 percent contained.
The flames spread up Santiago Peak on Monday night, threatening an antenna farm atop the mountain. An antenna farm is an area in which communications equipment—such as antennas or satellite dishes—are clustered together.
“BREAKING NEWS: It’s not looking good for critical infrastructure atop Santiago Peak, where the #AirportFire appears to be encroaching on the invaluable antenna farm which sits at the highest elevation in #OrangeCounty, CA,” KABC reporter Chris Cristi posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a photo of the flames on Monday night.
One of the responses to Cristi’s post showed that the flames had been doused in the immediate vicinity of the antenna farm. However, on Tuesday morning, crews were still fighting the flames on Santiago Peak.
“Crews still working here at the top of Santiago Peak after the #AirportFire reached the top last night,” KNX News reporter Brian Douglas posted on Tuesday morning. “It’s now at 8,500 acres burned with 0% containment. The fire continues towards the east and has crossed over the OC/Riverside county line.”
Newsweek reached out to the Orange County Fire Authority by email for comment.
The fast-spreading flames prompted a mandatory evacuation for the RSM03 evacuation zone in the Rancho Santa Margarita area, according to a webpage from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Voluntary evacuation warnings are in place for RSM01and RSM02, TBU01 in Trabuco Canyon, and ORT01 and ELC01 near Ortega Highway.
“Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire on Trabuco Creek Road near the remote-controlled airplane airport in Trabuco Canyon,” Orange County Fire Authority posted on X shortly after the fire ignited on Monday afternoon. “Please avoid the area so firefighters can respond and work safely.”
The fire has since been classified as “unintentional.”
Various shelters have been established, including a long-term care and reception shelter at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center and a large animal shelter in Costa Mesa.
Several roads are closed, including Plano Trabuco and Joshua Drive, Plano Trabuco and Robinson Ranch, Antonio and Alas de Paz, Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek, Santa Margarita and Antonio and Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road.