Tue. Feb 18th, 2025
Mandatory evacuation order issued for Trabuco Bell Hot Spring Canyons Near the Airport Fire Burn Scar

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 13, 2025) Effective Thursday, February 13 at 12 pm, an Evacuation Order (Mandatory) will be issued 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. An Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) remains in place for Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon. A map with detailed depictions of the areas under Evacuation Warning (voluntary) can be found at www.ocsheriff.gov/airportfire.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the burn scar area for Thursday, February 13 at 10 am through Friday, February 14 at 4 am for the expected rain event.

Any person with disabilities and those with access and/or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance should call Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.

Orange County Animal Care encourages animal owners in voluntary evacuation areas to implement their personal evacuation plans at this time. Pet evacuation tips are available at: https://ocpetinfo.com/education-resources/disaster-preparedness.

Any person needing assistance with information about animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848 during normal hours from 8 am to 5 pm or 714-259-1122 during after-hours from 5 pm to 8 am.

To report storm-related issues with a County road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center at 714-955-0333 during flash flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.

Evacuation Areas

  • Trabuco Canyon – Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
  • Hot Springs Canyon – Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
  • Bell Canyon – Evacuation Order (MANDATORY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
  • Long Canyon – Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)
  • Modjeska Canyon – Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY – as of February 13 at 12 pm)

Road Closures

Hard road closures will be in place on Thursday, February 13 at 12 pm at the following locations:

  • Trabuco Road/Rose Canyon
  • Plano Trabuco/Robinson
  • Grey Rock/Bell Canyon
  • Hot Springs Canyon/Ortega Highway

OC Parks

O’Neill Regional Park and campgrounds remains closed, effective Thursday, February 13.

Sheltering

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. Depending on conditions, the Evacuation Warning (Voluntary) for Long and Modjeska Canyons may transition to Evacuation Order (Mandatory) with little or no notice, so residents leaving the area are encouraged to plan accordingly.

In coordination with the Orange County Social Services Agency, Orange County Public Libraries and the American Red Cross opened a congregate (dormitory style) shelter location for evacuated residents of the Canyons at 8 am on Thursday, February 13. The shelter is located at the Foothill Ranch Library Program Annex, which is directly adjacent to the Foothill Ranch Library located at 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610.

Orange County Public Works, Orange County Animal Care, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are working in Unified Command.

Residents are encouraged to check regularly for updates through local media and on Facebook and Twitter following #OCCanyonFlood at:

               Twitter: @OCGovCA                     Facebook:@OCGov                      Instagram: @OCGov

                Twitter: @OCSheriff                      Facebook: @OCSheriff

                Twitter: @OCPublicWorks         Facebook: @OCPublicWorks

                Twitter: @OCAnimalCare          Facebook: @OCAnimalCare

                Twitter: @OCFireAuthority        Facebook: @OCFireAuthority

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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