The Norte Fire has burned about 570 acres in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano and damaged or destroyed seven homes, the Orange County Fire Authority says. As of Sunday morning it was 50% contained, and all evacuation orders have been lifted.
The fire started around 11:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, and ran quickly through hillside brush on the back of hot, dry Santa Ana winds. "It was a wind-driven event," Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern said, according to LAist. On Friday he told reporters the fire "moved fast" because of the weather and terrain and described the wind as "relentless," ABC News reported.
No residents were hurt. Two firefighters were injured and treated in hospitals. The cause is under investigation.
What do we know about the Norte Fire right now?
| Latest | |
|---|---|
| Location | San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, south Orange County |
| Started | About 11:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16 |
| Size | About 570 acres |
| Containment | 50% (Sunday morning) |
| Homes damaged or destroyed | 7 |
| Injuries | 2 firefighters; no residents |
| Evacuations | All orders lifted Saturday night |
| Firefighters | 467 on scene Sunday morning |
| Cause | Under investigation |
The fire began near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente. The Orange County Fire Authority received the first call at 11:33 a.m. and sent crews that had been on standby for the wind event, LAist reported.
How big did the evacuations get?
At its peak, roughly 4,600 homes and nearly 16,000 people were inside the evacuation zone, ABC News reported. On Saturday afternoon about 12,200 people in San Juan Capistrano were still under orders, according to CNN.
Officials lifted the San Clemente zones first, then partially reopened San Juan Capistrano. By Saturday night every order had been lifted.
Ten schools in the Capistrano Unified district dismissed early on Friday, and after-school sports and programs were cancelled. Rep. Mike Levin, who represents the area, said his own family evacuated their San Juan Capistrano home, CNN reported.
Why did the fire spread so fast?
The Norte Fire is one of several that started after Santa Ana winds arrived on Thursday. These winds blow from the deserts toward the coast, warming and drying as they descend, which leaves brush primed to burn.
Gusts in the area reached about 25 mph on Friday afternoon and eased to around 17 mph by Saturday, according to CNN. Fire officials warned of a "dangerous rate of spread" while the gusts held. Red flag warnings covered Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the Antelope Valley foothills through Saturday night.
Utilities also cut power to tens of thousands of customers as a precaution so that their lines would not spark new fires, CNN reported.
What other fires are burning in Southern California?
| Fire | Where | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norte Fire | San Clemente / San Juan Capistrano | ~570 acres | 50% contained Sunday |
| Henderson Fire | Camp Pendleton, San Diego County | 3,000+ acres | 35% contained Saturday morning |
| Bryson Fire | Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu | ~150 acres | 52% contained Friday |
The Henderson Fire started Thursday afternoon on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, about 20 miles south of San Clemente. It prompted a temporary evacuation of one part of the base and closed part of Interstate 5, CNN reported. The base said there was no active threat to personnel or facilities.
The Bryson Fire above Malibu put more than 7,000 structures under evacuation orders or warnings. No damage was reported, and at least one firefighter suffered minor injuries.
What happens next?
Forecasters expected the winds to ease over the weekend, with cooler weather and a chance of light rain, LAist reported. That should let crews strengthen containment lines around the Norte Fire.
Investigators are still working to find the cause. Residents returning home should watch for hot spots and downed power lines and follow Orange County Fire Authority updates. The fire information line is 714-628-7085.
For how the season's other big weather stories played out, see our coverage of Hurricane Isaias.
