Evacuation orders for some residents impacted by the Norte Fire in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano have been lifted, allowing them to return home. The blaze has burned up to 570 acres across the two communities, though Orange County Fire Authority officials reported 5% containment overnight in a Saturday morning update.
In a midday update, spokespeople from the OC Sheriff Department and OC Fire Authorities announced the reopening of several evacuation zones. Evacuation orders in Zone 13 in Northern San Clemente have been fully lifted. In San Juan Capistrano, evacuation orders have been partially lifted for Zone 10, specifically covering the Stallion Ridge Community, San Juan Hills High School, and the Prima Deschecha landfill.
However, other evacuation orders remain in effect due to ongoing risks. Greg Barta, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, stated that “other evacuation orders are still in effect” due to an active fire line, wind, and a heat advisory, posing continued danger. Lizbeth Gwisdalla, a spokeswoman for the OC Sheriff’s department, reinforced this in a video posted to X this afternoon, noting that road closures are maintained in all other affected areas and encouraged people to stay out as crews work to secure the community.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Ms. Gwisdalla reported that approximately 16,000 residents and 6,000 structures had been under evacuation orders. Mr. Barta confirmed that six homes have sustained damage from the flames, and two firefighters have been injured. The cause of the Norte Fire has not yet been identified.
The fire first erupted near the Prima Deschecha landfill around midday Friday, rapidly escalating from 10 acres to 250 acres within an hour. Strong Santa Ana winds and dry brush were identified as factors fueling the swift spread of the blaze.
Federal assistance has been secured for the affected areas, with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now available to support firefighting efforts. Governor Gavin Newsom stated in a press release that this federal aid ensures local and state partners have critical resources to aggressively fight the Norte Fire, protect lives and property, and keep Californians safe. Mr. Barta indicated in a Saturday morning video that the day's actions would focus on continuing to attack the fire and working toward safely returning residents home.
