Orange County will pay $33 million to resolve hundreds of claims related to the Airport fire, the destructive 2024 blaze sparked by its public works crew that burned for 26 days and razed homes and structures between two counties. The OC Board of Supervisors agreed in a closed session meeting this w eek to approve the settlement payment to 592 claimants from 193 households. Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento was absent. The Airport fire, which erupted Sept. 9, 2024, in Trabuco Canyon, destroyed more than 160 structures — which include homes, sheds, cars and such — 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. The blaze was accidentally sparked by an OC Public Works crew that failed to follow department “best practices” while moving boulders with heavy machinery, officials have said. “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 in a statement Wednesday. “Within one year, we successfully resolved and reimbursed half of the claimants.” Sarmiento said the county is taking the appropriate steps to process and settle the claims. “While I cannot comment on specific claims, I can share that the county is continuing to review and carefully consider the claims submitted,” he said in a statement. Singleton Schreiber, the San Diego-based law firm representing all the claimants in the $33 million settlement, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. In a 2024 interview, managing partner Gerald Singleton said the majority of his clients are homeowners or renters who lost personal property in the fire. The county has settled 400 claims and paid out roughly $89 million as of Jan. 14, according to data shared by a county spokesperson. Separately, Cal Fire sued the county last year to recover $32 million in firefighting costs. The county is seeking in court to dismiss the state agency’s claim, with a hearing set for June 11. This is a developing story, please check back for updates. Related Articles Cal Fire says Orange County owes nearly $32 million for Airport fire costs ...read more read less