Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, a wildfire exploded across hundreds of acres straddling San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano Friday, burning an unknown number of multimillion-dollar homes to the ground and prompting widespread evacuation orders, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
The fire in the area of Portico Del Norte broke out about 11:30 a.m., 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.
Initial reports from the scene Friday morning indicated at least eight structures were burned as the fire rapidly grew in size, 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 in the area. It was unclear exactly how many homes were affected, but additional burning homes were spotted as the afternoon wore on, with several of the structures gutted by the flames.
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.
“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.
The evacuation orders cover most of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, Foley said.
A portion of the northbound San Diego (5) Freeway in the area was closed as the flames advanced toward the roadway, Foley said.
Evacuation centers were established at San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion; and San Clemente Community Center, 100 Calle Seville.
Crews were battling 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.
In response to the fire, the Capistrano Unified School District announced that students were being 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.