Cal Fire has filed a complaint against Orange County and two Public Works employees seeking to recoup nearly $32 million in costs associated with last year’s Airport fire.
The state agency filed in Orange County Superior Court to recover costs related to “fire suppression, investigation, report-making, administrative, accounting and collection,” as well as legal fees, according to the complaint dated Sept. 3.
The Airport fire, which erupted Sept. 9, 2024 in Trabuco Canyon, and burned for 26 days, destroyed more than 160 structures and 23,000 acres across Orange and Riverside counties. Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate.
Cal Fire’s complaint alleges the blaze ignited when the two workers from the Public Works Department were moving boulders in Trabuco Canyon. Despite wind gusts, dry vegetation and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, the employees failed to use adequate fire suppression equipment or keep a water tender on site and “did not properly clear flammable materials” in the vicinity of their work area, according to the court document.
“At all relevant times, the county failed to take reasonable precautions necessary to prevent the starting and spreading of fire,” the complaint said.
Orange County has appropriated nearly $500 million to cover possible payouts to victims of the fire, and as of August had paid more than $39 million in settlements so far. Thousands of claim forms have been submitted, though some are duplicates or from multiple people of the same household, so it has been unclear how many final claims there will be.
The county has $30 million in insurance coverage, the rest of the payouts will come from general funds. It’s not clear yet what the total cost of the first to the county will be.
Cal Fire filed its claim with the county in March; the county did not act on it within the required 45 days, the complaint said.
Cal Fire served its complaint to the county on Nov. 4. The county’s response is due Jan. 12.
County counsel Leon Page, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the complaint, citing the pending litigation.
Hence then, the article about cal fire says orange county owes nearly 32 million for airport fire costs was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Cal Fire says Orange County owes nearly $32 million for Airport fire costs )
Also on site :
- Kentucky congressman announces death of longtime staffer, campaign manager
- The Christmas Day Storm
- Camarillo man arrested after stolen camera reactivated and installed on the exterior of a home