Norte Fire prompts evacuations as homes burn in Orange County
The blaze grew to 465 acres on Friday as Santa Ana winds raised the risk of further wildfire spread in Southern California.
The Norte Fire grew to 465 acres in Orange County, California, on Friday, October 16, prompting evacuation orders as flames reached homes in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano area. By Friday evening, a fire chief said six homes had been damaged or destroyed, while strong Santa Ana winds threatened to spread fires across Southern California.
Neighborhoods near Calle Delgado in San Juan Capistrano were under mandatory evacuation orders on Friday afternoon, NBC News reported, citing the Orange County Fire Authority. The authority said at that point that four homes had been “impacted.” A later Friday evening update from Division 3 Fire Chief Mark Backoff put the number damaged or destroyed at six, according to BBC News. The reports do not establish whether the difference reflects timing or how the homes were counted.
Firefighter injured as crews battle the Norte Fire
One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion while fighting the blaze, BBC News reported. In his evening update, Backoff said crews were continuing to fight the fire and that additional resources were coming. Footage posted online showed flames moving through homes in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, the BBC reported.
The Orange County Fire Authority urged people under evacuation orders to leave immediately, Hindustan Times reported, quoting an agency post. The outlet said orders covered zones SJC04, SJC05, SJC10, SCL12 and SCL13 on the county evacuation map. It also reported that evacuations had been requested for streets off Camino Las Ramblas toward Interstate 5, citing radio traffic. Those details describe Friday's reported orders; later changes were not established.
Santa Ana winds raise wildfire risk across Southern California
Federal forecasters recorded temperatures of 96 degrees and offshore winds reaching 30 mph around the Norte Fire, NBC News reported. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for several California counties because gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation created conditions in which wildfires could spread rapidly, according to BBC News. NBC reported that Los Angeles County officials expected critical fire conditions to persist over the weekend.
The Norte Fire was one of 13 fires burning across California, according to state fire agency figures cited by BBC News. A separate fire along the Malibu coast also prompted evacuations, CBS News reported. The two blazes affected different parts of Southern California as hot, dry weather and strong winds complicated the response.
Read in depth: World
First Guangdong yachts arrive in Hong Kong under new southbound scheme
Five yachts from Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Guangzhou entered Hong Kong under new cross-boundary rules for mainland leisure vessels.
UK ban on specified strangulation and incest pornography takes effect in November
The government says new offences covering possession and publication of specified pornography will take effect in England and Wales on 6 November.
Sources and context
- Evacuation orders as fast-moving Norte Fire burns homes south of Los AngelesBBC News
- Southern California wildfires force evacuations amid powerful Santa Ana windsCBS News
- Multiple fires burn in Southern California, triggering some evacuationsNBC News
- Norte Fire burns homes in San Clemente; Via La Mirada in San Juan Capistrano among hardest-hit areas as evacuations continueHindustan Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.