A fast-moving wildfire that erupted near Portico Del Norte on Friday morning has ravaged parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, destroying homes and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The Norte Fire, which started around 11:30 a.m., expanded rapidly across hundreds of acres, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds. By early afternoon, it had scorched at least 465 acres, growing to 570 acres by Friday evening, according to Cal Fire.
As of Saturday, the fire had no containment, with crews continuing to battle the blaze on the ground and with water-dropping aircraft. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) confirmed that six homes were "damaged or destroyed" by the fire, with OCFA Division Three Fire Chief Mark Backhoff expressing that their "hearts go out to the folks impacted by that." Video from the scene showed flames engulfing the roofs of multiple structures in areas like Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada, and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano.
The widespread evacuation orders affected approximately 6,000 homes and 16,000 residents across both cities, as reported by San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier. The orders covered neighborhoods from Camino Las Ramblas down to the San Diego (5) Freeway, encompassing most of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley advised residents, "If you can see the smoke and the fire then you need to evacuate."
In response to the emergency, the Capistrano Unified School District dismissed students early from multiple schools, including Bernice Ayer, Concordia, San Clemente, and San Juan Hills. The Camino Capistrano off-ramp from the northbound San Diego Freeway was also closed due to the fire. Cal Fire announced early Saturday that California had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure critical resources for suppression.
Two firefighters sustained heat-related injuries while battling the blaze, with one treated for heat exhaustion. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment, and Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi noted that one of the hospitalized firefighters was "doing good right now." While fire activity lessened by Friday night, allowing crews to focus on actively burning structures, the danger persisted.
Firefighters expect fierce Santa Ana winds to continue through Saturday, though dipping temperatures Friday night and potential rain in the forecast offered some hope. Captain Concialdi emphasized the ongoing threat, stating, "Right now we’re worried about the wind event." He added that crews would remain on scene for several days to prevent rekindling, even as hundreds of thousands of other homes were successfully protected.
For residents under evacuation, centers were established at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and the San Clemente Community Center. The Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano also opened as a shelter, allowing animals and medications. Orange County Animal Care in Tustin was available to shelter dogs, cats, and other small pets. Captain Concialdi encouraged residents to sign up for Alert OC emergency notifications as a proactive measure.
