SoCal Wildfires: Norte Fire Forces Mass OC Evacuations
The socal wildfires outbreak escalated Friday as a fast-moving new blaze in Orange County scorched 465 acres and forced thousands of residents to flee, while powerful Santa Ana winds fanned a growing cluster of fires from Malibu to Camp Pendleton.
The Norte Fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. Friday near Portico Del Norte in San Clemente and raced into residential neighborhoods around San Juan Capistrano. The Orange County Fire Authority said firefighters were “aggressively attacking the fire from ground and air,” with multiple helicopters dropping water on the flames as live footage showed structures burning in the affluent coastal communities.
Norte Fire Hits San Juan Capistrano Homes
The fire tore through at least 465 acres by Friday afternoon and had impacted at least four homes, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. About 16,000 residents in roughly 6,000 homes were placed under evacuation orders, and authorities urged anyone in the fire’s path to leave immediately.
Evacuation shelters opened at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and the San Clemente Community Center. The Capistrano Unified School District canceled sports and after-school programs and dismissed some schools early. Two firefighters were hospitalized with heat-related injuries while battling the blaze, and officials warned of poor air quality across the area.
Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton
Farther south, the Henderson Fire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton grew to more than 2,070 acres, prompting evacuations on the base and temporary closures of Interstate 5. Cal Fire reported about 20 percent containment by early Friday evening, and the freeway reopened in both directions Friday afternoon.
A separate 20-acre fire near San Onofre State Beach forced evacuations of coastal camping areas, adding to the tally of blazes straining firefighting resources across the region.
Bryson Fire and the Red Flag Outlook
In Los Angeles County, the Bryson Fire in Malibu stood at 147 acres with 17 percent containment by Friday afternoon, according to Cal Fire, with more than 7,200 structures still threatened. County emergency officials called Friday morning the most critical period of the red flag event, with gusts near the fire footprint reaching 60 miles per hour and topping 80 miles per hour at higher elevations.
Tens of thousands of customers in Los Angeles County alone were without power as Southern California Edison de-energized lines to reduce the risk of wind-driven sparks. The National Weather Service warned of a “high risk for large fires and rapid fire growth,” with red flag warnings extending through Saturday evening amid hot, dry conditions.
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles