Six homes burned and two firefighters hurt as Norte fire sweeps southern California

A fast-moving wildfire known as the Norte fire tore through parts of southern California on Friday, destroying or damaging at least six homes. Two firefighters were taken to hospital with heat-related injuries. The blaze is being driven by dry, warm Santa Ana winds, which blow from the interior toward the coast, and dangerous weather conditions persist across the region.

How the fire developed

The fire began in the coastal city of San Clemente, and the wind pushed it into San Juan Capistrano. By Saturday morning it had spread across 570 acres (230 hectares) and was 5% contained. Crews from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) worked through the night on the ground and from the air. Wind gusts reached 50–70mph (80–110km/h).

OCFA chief TJ McGovern told a press conference that no injuries or deaths among residents had been reported. He said the fire moved quickly because of weather and terrain, calling it a wind-driven event. The cause remains under investigation.

By Friday night, about 6,000 homes were under mandatory evacuation, affecting 16,000 residents. An evacuation shelter was opened in each of the two cities.

Other fires and power cuts

Just north of San Clemente, the Henderson fire burned 3,132 acres in parts of San Diego County and was 35% contained, according to Cal Fire, the state's fire agency. It briefly closed Interstate 5, which fully reopened on Friday evening. No injuries were reported, and the cause is unknown.

The National Weather Service said the Santa Ana winds would last through Saturday and the risk of extreme, rapidly spreading fire could still increase. A red flag warning for southern California remains in effect until Saturday night. To keep utility equipment from sparking new fires, Pacific Gas and Electric proactively cut power to nearly 62,000 customers in 26 northern California counties. More than 118,000 customers across the state were without electricity on Friday.