Norte fire burns homes in Orange County as Santa Ana winds blow
The Norte fire, fed by strong Santa Ana winds, grew to about 570 acres in Orange County on Friday, CNN and CBS Los Angeles reported. Six homes were burned or damaged, and none of the fire was contained by that evening, CNN said. About 16,000 people were ordered to leave, fire officials said, per CNN.
The Norte fire started in foothills near San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente around midday Friday and, pushed by Santa Ana winds, grew to 570 acres, CNN and CBS Los Angeles reported, citing the Orange County Fire Authority. CNN said none of it was contained by Friday evening. That was the figure in CBS Los Angeles' update at 12:32 a.m. ET Saturday. The Los Angeles Times earlier reported the fire at 465 acres. Six homes were destroyed or damaged, fire officials said, according to CNN, and the Los Angeles Times reported six homes damaged in a hillside neighborhood near Via La Mirada. Two firefighters were hospitalized with significant injuries and are stable, CNN and CBS Los Angeles reported.
Evacuation orders covered roughly 16,000 people in parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern said, according to CNN. "A majority of the fire has been knocked down. However, we still have some homes that have been impacted here," fire authority spokesperson Steve Concialdi said, according to CNN. Crews aim to keep the fire within its current footprint, McGovern said, CNN reported. Gov. Gavin Newsom said California secured a federal grant to help fight the fire, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Linda Verraster, who lives just south of the evacuation zone in San Clemente, filled her cars with gas and got ready to leave, the Los Angeles Times reported. "We're watching the wind. I'm getting my cat carriers ready just in case," she said, according to the Times. Resident Robert Morris called the fire "a wake-up call," CBS Los Angeles reported.
Smoke was expected to push air quality to levels unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of south Orange County until Saturday morning, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said, according to CBS Los Angeles. The Santa Ana winds were expected to stay elevated through Saturday before easing later in the weekend, CNN reported. U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, whose family evacuated, said "year-round wildfire season" has become the "new normal" for Southern California, CNN reported.
The Norte fire is separate from the Henderson fire at Camp Pendleton, which had burned 2,080 acres with no containment by Friday evening, and the Bryson fire in Malibu, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What we know: The Norte fire had burned 570 acres with no containment by Friday evening and had destroyed or damaged six homes.
What we don't: When evacuated residents can return home and whether the fire will spread as winds stay strong.
Where outlets agree The Los Angeles Times, CNN and CBS Los Angeles all report that the wind-driven Norte fire damaged six homes and forced evacuations in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.