A wildfire, dubbed the Norte Fire, raged across parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, destroying several homes and prompting widespread evacuation orders, remaining 0% contained as of Saturday. The blaze, which started Friday morning, grew to 570 acres, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, according to the Orange County Fire Authority and Cal Fire.
Six homes were described as "damaged or destroyed" by the fire, OCFA Division Three Fire Chief Mark Backhoff stated. The affected structures were generally located in the area of Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada, and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano. Video from the scene showed flames burning through multiple roofs.
Evacuation orders were issued for approximately 6,000 homes affecting 16,000 residents, according to San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier. These orders covered most of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, extending to streets off Camino Las Ramblas down to the San Diego (5) Freeway. Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley advised that if residents could see the smoke and fire, they needed to evacuate.
Two firefighters sustained heat-related injuries while battling the blaze. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, Chief Backhoff said, and a second firefighter sustained heat-related injuries, OCFA Capt. Greg Barta confirmed. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment, with one reported to be doing well, according to OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi.
The Norte Fire broke out about 11:30 a.m. Friday in the area of Portico Del Norte. Within an hour, it had scorched 250 acres, growing to at least 465 acres by early afternoon. Cal Fire announced at 7:27 p.m. that the blaze had grown to 570 acres. Crews have been battling the fire on the ground and with water-dropping aircraft, with additional strike teams summoned as the conflagration rapidly expanded.
To aid in suppression efforts, California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cal Fire announced early Saturday. The Camino Capistrano off-ramp from the northbound San Diego Freeway was closed due to the fire.
In response to the emergency, the Capistrano Unified School District announced early dismissals for students at multiple schools, including Bernice Ayer, Clarence Lobo, Concordia, Harold Ambuehl, Palisades, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, Shorecliffs, Truman Benedict, and Vista Del Mar.
Evacuation centers were established at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and the San Clemente Community Center. A shelter was also set up at the Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano, where animals and medications are allowed, but unsolicited donations are not being accepted. Orange County Animal Care in Tustin is also available to shelter dogs, cats, and other small pets.
While 0% containment was reported as of 9:20 p.m. Friday, fire activity was noticeably diminished by the end of the day, with fire crews focusing on homes that were still burning. Capt. Concialdi noted that firefighters were disappointed by the six homes scorched, but also emphasized that hundreds of thousands of other homes were protected.
Firefighters anticipate fierce winds through Saturday, with the Santa Ana winds posing the greatest current risk, Capt. Concialdi stated. However, dipping temperatures Friday night and potential rain may eventually help in recovery efforts. Capt. Concialdi said firefighters expect to be on scene for a number of days, working to prevent rekindling or embers from igniting further vegetation or homes. He encouraged residents to sign up for Alert OC emergency notifications as a preparedness measure.
