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

See Full Page