Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, a wildfire exploded across hundreds of acres straddling San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano Friday, destroying several multimillion-dollar homes and prompting widespread evacuation orders, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
The Norte Fire in the area of Portico Del Norte broke out about 11:30 a.m. Friday, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Within an hour it grew to 250 acres, and by early afternoon it had scorched at least 465 acres with 0% containment.
Cal Fire announced at 7:27 p.m. the blaze had grown to 570 acres.
Crews battled the fire on the ground and with the assistance of water-dropping aircraft, with additional strike teams summoned to the scene as the conflagration grew rapidly.
Although no containment was listed as of 9:20 p.m., fire activity was noticeably diminished by day’s end, with fire crews focused on homes that were still burning.
OCFA Division Three Fire Chief Mark Backhoff said six homes were “damaged or destroyed” by the fire.
“Our hearts go out to the folks impacted by that,” Backhoff said.
One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, he said.
A second firefighter sustained heat-related injuries, OCFA Capt. Greg Barta said at an evening news conference.
Both fighters were taken to a hospital for treatment, Barta said.
One of the hospitalized firefighters taken to an area hospital for treatment of heat-related ailments is “doing good right now,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
The structures burned as the fire rapidly grew, with affected structures generally in the area of Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano. Video from the scene showed flames burning through the roofs of multiple structures.
The wind-whipped blaze prompted evacuation orders in multiple neighborhoods of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, including streets off Camino Las Ramblas down to the San Diego (5) Freeway.
According to San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier, approximately 6,000 homes and 16,000 residents were reported under evacuation orders.
“If you can see the smoke and the fire then you need to evacuate,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley told City News Service as the fire raged.
The evacuation orders covered most of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, Foley said.
Concialdi encouraged residents to use the fire as a reminder to sign up for Alert OC emergency notifictions.
Concialdi said firefighters expect fierce winds through Saturday, but said rain may eventually help.
“We’re going to be here for a number of days. We don’t want rekindling,” Concialdi said. “We don’t want those embers to then catch a palm tree or some vegetation in another area or next to homes.”
Concialdi said firefighters were disappointed that six homes were scorched, but, he added that “hundreds of thousands” of other homes were protected.
Dipping temperatures Friday night should also aid firefighters, Concialdi said. Firefighting helicopters have not been stymied by the wind, he added.
The Santa Ana winds pose the greatest risk heading into Saturday, he said.
“Right now we’re worried about the wind event,” he said. “And it’s going to continue blowing tomorrow so we’ll be staffed up again tomorrow. Fortunately our wind will hopefully slow down tomorrow and we’re going to get that rain. That will help us recover.”
The Camino Capistrano off-ramp from the northbound San Diego Freeway was closed due to the fire.
Evacuation centers were established at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and San Clemente Community Center.
A shelter was also established at the Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano. Officials confirmed that animals are allowed and residents may bring their medications, but unsolicited donations will not be accepted.
Orange County Animal Care in Tustin is also open to shelter dogs, cats and other small pets.
In response to the fire, the Capistrano Unified School District announced that students were dismissed early at multiple schools — Bernice Ayer, Clarence Lobo, Concordia, Harold Ambuehl, Palisades, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, Shorecliffs, Truman Benedict and Vista Del Mar.
The cause of the fire was unknown.