Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Airport Fire burn scar and warnings for other Orange County areas on Tuesday morning as a strong Pacific storm continues to batter Southern California.
The O.C. Sheriff’s Department put the evacuation order into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday for “areas in Trabuco Creek including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school, Bell Canyon including Starr Ranch and Hot Springs Canyon including Lazy-W Ranch, due to possible debris flows along or near the Airport Fire burn scar.”
“Residents living in the evacuation areas are encouraged to leave early and plan for alternate shelter with friends, family or at a local hotel outside of the evacuation area,” stated OCSD. “Depending on conditions, the Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) may transition to Evacuation Order (Mandatory) with little or no notice, so residents leaving the area are encouraged to plan accordingly.”
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for the burn scar area from 11 a.m. Tuesday until 5 p.m. Thursday…