Overview
- Supervisors approved the agreement in a closed session with a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento absent.
- The settlement covers 592 claims from 193 households represented by the Singleton Schreiber law firm.
- Officials determined the 2024 blaze was accidentally ignited by an OC Public Works crew using heavy equipment that failed to follow department best practices.
- The Airport Fire began Sept. 9, 2024, burned about 23,000 acres, destroyed more than 160 structures, and injured 22 people, prompting mass evacuations.
- As of Jan. 14, the county reported paying roughly $89 million to claimants, and it faces a separate Cal Fire suit seeking nearly $32 million with a June 11 dismissal hearing.