A fire that broke out in Trabuco Canyon near a field for remote-controlled airplanes has exploded in size and prompted voluntary evacuations Monday afternoon.

The Airport Fire has burned 292 acres in Trabuco Canyon, a mountain community north of Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County.

The Orange County Fire Authority responded to the fire around 1:30 p.m. and found a 7-acre blaze burning in dry brush. Crews were attacking the flames from the ground and air, utilizing “handcrews, dozers, helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft,” officials said.

Since then, the fire has grown steadily, with fire officials announcing the latest acreage around 3:10 p.m.

Massive plumes of smoke could be seen throughout the area, and video from Sky5 showed large flames burning up a steep hillside.

No mandatory evacuations have been ordered yet, but voluntary evacuations were being issued for communities near the blaze.

Homes along the following roadways are currently under a voluntary evacuation order:

• Rose Canyon Road
• Trabuco Creek Road
• Trabuco Canyon Road
• Trabuco Oaks Drive
• Joplin Loop
• Cook’s Corner

While only evacuation warnings are being issued at this time, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has urged residents to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

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