Topline:
The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted in closed session this week to approve a $33 million settlement for damages and losses resulting from the 2024 Airport Fire.
The details: On Tuesday, County Counsel Leon Page reported that the supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the settlement, with Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento absent. Page said the settlement covers 193 households, consisting of 592 different claimants.
The backstory: The Airport Fire occurred in Trabuco Canyon in September 2024, destroying 160 homes and other structures and injuring 22 people, including a number of firefighters. The fire was accidentally started by county employees working in dry, hot conditions. LAist was the first to report on public records that show workers failed to follow recommended best practices in such conditions…