A wildfire that ripped through parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano over the weekend was 5% contained Saturday morning after scorching 570 acres. The Norte Fire, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, destroyed or damaged several homes and prompted widespread evacuation orders across both cities.
The blaze began around 11:30 a.m. Friday near Portico Del Norte, according to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). Within an hour, it had expanded to 250 acres, growing to 465 acres by early afternoon. Cal Fire reported the blaze at 570 acres by Friday evening, a figure that held through Saturday morning's updates.
Six homes were confirmed to be "damaged or destroyed" by the fire, OCFA Division Three Fire Chief Mark Backhoff stated. Video from the scene showed flames burning through the roofs of multiple residences, primarily in the areas of Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada, and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano. Backhoff expressed that, "Our hearts go out to the folks impacted by that."
The rapidly moving fire triggered evacuation orders for thousands of residents. San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier reported that approximately 6,000 homes, sheltering 16,000 residents, were initially under orders. Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley confirmed that these orders covered most of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, advising residents that, "If you can see the smoke and the fire then you need to evacuate." The orders affected streets off Camino Las Ramblas down to the San Diego (5) Freeway, which also saw the Camino Capistrano off-ramp closed on the northbound side due to the fire.
By Saturday morning, some evacuation orders were lifted, allowing all evacuated residents in San Clemente to return home. Partial repopulation in San Juan Capistrano was limited to the Stallion Ridge community, San Juan Hills High School, and the landfill off La Pata, according to the OCFA. For those still displaced, evacuation centers were established at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and the San Clemente Community Center. A shelter at the Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano also welcomed residents, allowing animals and medications, though unsolicited donations were not accepted. Orange County Animal Care in Tustin was open to shelter dogs, cats, and other small pets.
Crews battled the blaze from the ground and with water-dropping aircraft, with additional strike teams called in as the conflagration grew. Fire activity significantly decreased by Friday's end, with firefighters focusing on homes still burning. Two firefighters were treated for heat-related injuries, with OCFA Capt. Greg Barta confirming their hospital transport. Capt. Steve Concialdi later updated that one of the hospitalized firefighters was "doing good right now." Concialdi noted the disappointment over the six scorched homes but emphasized that "hundreds of thousands" of other homes were protected. Looking ahead, Concialdi said firefighters anticipate fierce winds through Saturday, noting the need to remain on scene for several days to prevent rekindling. He added that while winds are a concern, impending rain might offer some help.
The Capistrano Unified School District announced early dismissals for students at several schools, including Bernice Ayer, Clarence Lobo, Concordia, Harold Ambuehl, Palisades, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, Shorecliffs, Truman Benedict, and Vista Del Mar. To assist with suppression efforts, California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as announced by Cal Fire. Additionally, Airbnb is offering free emergency housing in partnership with 211OC, a service of Orange County United Way, to connect displaced residents with temporary stays. Residents affected by the fire can dial 211 for assistance and resources.
