Two years after the Airport fire erupted, razing homes and structures across two counties, Orange County has spent more than $160 million settling claims and is close to closing out the process, a county spokesperson said.
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The county has paid out 1,471 claims (in many cases there are multiple claims connected to a single property) worth nearly $164 million to date, and received roughly $31 million in insurance money toward those costs, according to spokesperson Molly Nichelson.
The blaze was sparked Sept. 9, 2024, by an OC Public Works crew moving boulders into place along Trabuco Creek Road with heavy machinery, officials have said. It spread up the nearby Santa Ana Mountains and crested over into Riverside County, destroying more than 160 structures — which include homes, sheds, cars and such — and 23,000 acres.
After initially seeking to dismiss a $32 million claim from Cal Fire looking for the county to pay for the state agency’s costs incurred while fighting the Airport fire, the county paid the state agency roughly $7 million on Aug. 14.
Despite wind gusts, dry vegetation and temperatures topping 100 degrees, county 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, the complaint filed by Cal Fire alleged.
The state has received the county’s payment and officially dismissed the claim, Nichelson said.
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State representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
County leaders appropriated nearly $500 million to cover the thousands of claims submitted by victims seeking compensation for a range of damages, from destroyed homes and cars to reimbursements for hotel stays.
“At this time, the county of Orange’s CEO Risk Department cannot provide a final tally of closed claims, but we can confirm that we are close to completion regarding the outstanding Airport fire claims,” Nichelson said in a statement.
In January, the county authorized $33 million to resolve 592 claims from 193 households.
“We committed to taking full responsibility for the damages and injuries suffered by homeowners and to resolving claims in an expeditious manner,” Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley said at the time. “Within one year, we successfully resolved and reimbursed half of the claimants.”
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