Norte Fire Burns Homes, Triggers Orange County Evacuations

The Norte Fire spread from San Clemente into San Juan Capistrano on Friday, burning homes and prompting evacuation orders as strong winds fueled its rapid growth, officials said. The Orange County Fire Authority said at least four homes had been impacted. Aerial and television footage showed multiple homes burning in San Juan Capistrano. A San Clemente council member said fire officials told him four homes had burned; reports also described homes as impacted, a broader damage category. The fire began around midday in San Clemente and moved into neighboring San Juan Capistrano. By Friday afternoon, reported acreage estimates ranged from 250 to 465 acres. The estimates came from updates at different times, and officials had not issued a single final figure in the reports available Friday. Evacuation orders covered parts of both cities, including San Clemente zones 12 and 13 and San Juan Capistrano zones 4, 5 and 10, according to official incident information. Evacuation warnings were also in effect for surrounding areas. Authorities opened shelters at community centers in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano and urged people in ordered zones to leave. Several Capistrano Unified...