Orange County has paid more than $39 million worth of settlements in the almost year since the Airport fire broke out and destroyed more than 100 structures , according to county officials.

“This includes settlements and from individuals who submitted documented claims for costs incurred related to the fire,” said Molly Nichelson, a spokesperson for the county. “Mediations are continuing and the county is working hard to expedite the process to help those impacted be reimbursed for their loss to begin to rebuild their lives.”

The Sept. 9 fire was sparked when a county Public Works Department crew was using heavy machinery on a hot and dry summer day to move boulders in Trabuco Canyon. The fire burned for 26 days, charring 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.

The county has

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