Wind-Driven Norte Fire Destroys Coastal Homes and Forces 16,000 to Evacuate

A fast-moving wildfire pushed by hot, dry winds burned at least six homes in Orange County, California, on Friday and led authorities to order about 16,000 residents to evacuate, according to NPR. The Norte fire began in San Clemente, and the wind drove it into neighboring San Juan Capistrano.

Fire conditions are expected to stay elevated into the weekend. The National Weather Service said the strongest winds should ease after Friday afternoon, but the heightened fire risk is forecast to last through Saturday night.

What happened in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

NPR reported that black smoke visible from miles away rose over tennis courts and swimming pools as firefighters sprayed burning homes in San Juan Capistrano. Some homeowners hosed down their own properties before leaving under evacuation orders.

Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with heat-related injuries, officials said. Authorities have not said what started the fire. As of Friday evening it covered less than a square mile.

Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern said about 16,000 residents were under evacuation orders by Friday night. A shelter has opened in each city. The Capistrano Unified School District said nine schools in San Juan Capistrano were closed Friday.

San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler said the outcome could have been far worse if the winds had been slightly stronger or blowing in a different direction. San Clemente Council member Victor Cabral said the flames were “right up on the city” along the north edge of homes.

Residents describe a rare threat

San Juan Capistrano Councilmember Howard Hart said he and his wife soaked their roof and moved propane tanks away from the house before leaving with a to-go bag. His wife, Laura Hart, said she had not had to flee a fire in the more than five decades she has lived in the community. She said such events usually happen to others and appear on the news.

In nearby Dana Point, visitor Shannon Needham was with her mother at an assisted living facility when she learned of the fire. She said the facility director told her two buses were on standby in case an evacuation became necessary, and that fire trucks and helicopters could be heard overhead.

Santa Ana winds and power shutoffs

The Norte fire was one of several in the region affected by Santa Ana winds, which are dry, warm gusts that blow from the interior toward the coast. The weather service said a heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday for the Orange County and San Diego County coast. It also issued a red flag warning for parts of central and Northern California through Friday morning, saying any fire there would spread rapidly.

NPR reported that tens of thousands of people in the state lost power after utilities cut electricity on purpose. Power equipment has sparked some of California's worst wildfires, and utilities in recent years have begun shutting off power during dry winds as a precaution. According to poweroutage.com, more than 118,000 customers in California had no electricity as of Friday.

What this means for residents and commuters

For people in the two cities, the immediate effects are evacuation orders, closed schools and shelters. San Juan Capistrano has 35,000 residents and San Clemente has 62,000. Both are surrounded by hillsides, and officials said the fire reached the edge of neighborhoods.

The effects reached beyond the burn area. A separate fire near the Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton closed a section of Interstate 5 for hours, NPR reported. The highway is a major route between Orange County and San Diego, and the closure added hours to commutes across Southern California.

Because the elevated fire danger is forecast to last through Saturday night, the situation could continue to change. Officials have not announced a timeline for lifting the evacuation orders.

Source: NPR