Orange County Fire Authority officials are evacuating areas in Trabuco Canyon and Rancho Santa Margarita after a vegetation fire quickly grew to nearly 1,900 acres on Monday afternoon.
As of 5 p.m. Monday afternoon, officials have called for mandatory evacuations in Rancho Santa Margarita’s Robinson Ranch in the face of what’s been dubbed the Airport Fire.
Homes in the Trabuco Highlands Homeowners Association are also under mandatory evacuation orders – along with the Trabuco Highland Apartment Complex.
The state’s live wildfire map from CalFire estimates the blaze has grown to 1,860 acres as of 5 p.m. Monday.
Sheriff’s officials are also calling for voluntary evacuations of residents living near Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop and Cook’s Corner.
Click here for a live map of the evacuations.
As of Monday afternoon, it’s not clear what started the blaze.
Meanwhile, a shelter for large animals opened up at the Orange County Fairgrounds as air crews and firefighters try curbing the Airport Fire.
It comes amid an intense weeklong heatwave that’s been beating down on Southern California, increasing the chances of wildfires.
The Airport Fire also comes after another wet winter for Southern California, which sees heightened vegetation growth – creating lots of fuel for brush fires.
Orange County isn’t alone in battling wildfires as the heatwave is expected to wrap up.
San Bernardino County is grappling with a roughly 23,000-acre fire as of Monday afternoon. There’s a host of mandatory evacuations for residents living near the wildfire.
Officials are also dealing with a roughly 900-acre fire near Camp Pendleton.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Norberto Santana Jr. and Maximo Santana contributed to this story.
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