Norte Fire damages homes, forces evacuations in Orange County

The wind-driven Norte Fire burned 570 acres in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, leaving six homes damaged or destroyed and prompting evacuation orders affecting about 16,000 residents, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The evacuation area encompassed about 4,600 homes in the two Orange County cities. The emergency also disrupted schools and after-school activities, while smoke prompted an air quality alert across most of the county.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the fire started near Portico Del Norte around 11:30 a.m. Friday and was 5% contained Saturday morning. The report did not specify calendar dates for those events. Strong Santa Ana winds drove the spread, and the ignition cause remained under investigation.

The Orange County Fire Authority confirmed that six homes were damaged or destroyed, with most believed to be in San Juan Capistrano. Aerial images suggested eight or more homes might have been affected, but that was not a confirmed damage assessment, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Ground crews and water-dropping aircraft fought the blaze. The report said 400 firefighters had responded and another 400 were on the way. Two firefighters were hospitalized: one with mild heat exhaustion who was doing well and another with significant injuries who was in stable condition.

Evacuation centers were established at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and San Clemente Community Center. An overnight shelter for evacuees and animals was scheduled to open at 8 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 1 Via Positiva in San Juan Capistrano, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an alert covering most of Orange County through 6 p.m. Saturday. Capistrano Unified School District announced early dismissal at several schools and canceled districtwide sports and after-school programs, the outlet reported.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said California secured a FEMA grant to support the fire response, according to NBC Los Angeles. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.