Some evacuation orders in south Orange County were lifted Saturday as crews work to increase containment of the wind-driven Norte Fire, which burned hundreds of acres and several homes, officials said.
The 570-acre blaze sparked near Portico Del Norte in San Clemente around 11:30 a.m. Friday and quickly spread through parts of San Juan Capistrano, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. As of Saturday morning, it was 5% contained.
Video from Via La Mirada shows scorched hillsides and houses as firefighters battled the fire from the ground and the air. At least six homes, mostly believed to be in San Juan Capistrano, have been damaged or destroyed, the OCFA said.
Evacuation orders were issued across multiple neighborhoods in both cities, spanning from the 5 Freeway to the south, La Pata Avenue to the north, Descanso Park to the west and Foster Ranch to the east. The area included about 16,000 people and 4,600 homes, OCFA Fire Chief TJ McGovern said during a Friday evening news conference.
On Saturday afternoon, the OCFA and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department announced that residents in San Clemente Zone 13 could return home and that San Juan Capistrano Zone 10 would be partially repopulated, specifically San Juan Hills High School, the Prima Deshecha Landfill off La Pata and the small residential community off Stallion Ridge.
“We just want to reiterate that the other evacuation orders are still in effect, and that’s due to the fact that we do have an active fire line, we do have wind, and we have a heat advisory in effect, so there’s still a risk,” OCFA Public Information Officer Greg Barta said in a social media video.
Evacuation centers were established at San Juan Capistrano Community Center (25925 Camino del Avion) and San Clemente Community Center (100 Calle Seville).
The OCFA said residents with questions can call the information hotline at 714-628-7085.
Planet Fitness said its Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest and Foothill Ranch locations were open to those impacted by the Norte Fire, offering a place to shower, charge devices, access Wi-Fi and rest for free.
Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with “significant injuries” but were in stable condition, fire officials said. No other injuries were reported.
In anticipation for this Santa Ana wind event, McGovern said the OCFA had upstaffed resources, including additional aircraft, water tenders and hand crews but that the “wind was relentless.”
“When the call came in, we had a robust response already ready to go from the air and the ground, and I can tell you that made a difference,” the fire chief said. “Due to weather and topography, this fire moved fast. This was a wind-driven event.”
Crews worked overnight from Friday into Saturday with the goal of keeping the blaze within its current footprint.
While winds have dropped significantly across Southern California, a red flag warning remains in place until 8 p.m. Saturday. Near the Norte Fire, temperatures in the 90s were expected with 5 to 10 mile-per-hour winds Saturday afternoon.
“After the winds are over, we focus on the next weather change, which will be a big cooldown and chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday this week,” NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
McGovern credited fire departments from Los Angeles city, Los Angeles County, Long Beach, San Bernardino and CalFire for sending strike teams and personnel, as well as the OCSD for coordinating getting people out of their homes quickly and safely.
This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.
