Norte Fire Damages Six Homes, Forces Evacuations

The wind-driven Norte Fire spread from San Clemente into San Juan Capistrano on Friday, damaging or destroying six homes and prompting evacuation orders for about 16,000 residents, according to fire officials. The Orange County Fire Authority’s Division Chief Mark Backoff said six homes had been damaged or destroyed. The figure was a preliminary assessment, and officials had not established a final damage tally. Video and aerial footage showed homes burning in San Juan Capistrano as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. The fire began in San Clemente around midday and moved into neighboring San Juan Capistrano, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and warm temperatures. Fire reports put its size at roughly 450 to 570 acres by Friday evening, with the estimates reflecting updates at different times. No final size or containment figure was established in the reports. Evacuation orders covered parts of both cities. Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern said about 16,000 residents were under orders by Friday evening; officials also described roughly 6,000 homes as covered by evacuation orders. Shelters opened in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, and...