Containment of the 570-acre Norte Fire in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano rose to 80% Monday on its fourth day with the 583 firefighters assigned to the blaze continuing locating and extinguishing hot spots in an attempt to prevent rekindling and protect surrounding communities,
“Some hot spots can smolder underground for weeks or even months,” an Orange County Fire Authority statement said. “When winds return, that hidden heat can spark another fire. Drones equipped with infrared cameras help crews identify heat that may otherwise go undetected and direct firefighters to areas that need attention.”
The fire was 60% contained according to the final update Sunday.
Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow, Cal Fire reported.
There were 67 engines and one water tender assigned to the fire, along with 11 helicopters and one dozer, according to Cal Fire.
The fire broke out at about 11:30 a.m. Friday in the area of Portico Del Norte, the OCFA reported. Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, it grew to 250 acres within an hour and destroyed or damaged seven homes.
OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said over the weekend that firefighters expected to remain in the area for several days to prevent the fire from rekindling.
“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.”
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 initially reported under evacuation orders.
Some evacuation orders were lifted Saturday morning.
Via La Mirada remained closed to vehicle traffic north of Esperanza to allow OCFA emergency vehicles to continue working. People were urged to avoid the burn scar area.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.