Orange County’s Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong Friday reissued an emergency declaration for the Airport Fire as crews continued to make progress in the battle against the flames. The emergency declaration will help keep state funding available to help with the costs of battling the blaze,

Kwong, Orange County's health officer, on Friday reissued an emergency declarationn for the Airport fire that began Sept. 9 and has so far consumed more than 23,000 acres.

The County of Orange has received the first claim over losses from the Airport fire that has destroyed a reported 160 structures and damaged another 34.