NORTE FIRE DAMAGES SIX HOMES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

California fire officials said the Norte Fire damaged or destroyed six homes after spreading from San Clemente into San Juan Capistrano on Friday. By Friday night, authorities had ordered evacuations for about 6,000 homes, affecting 16,000 residents in the two Orange County cities. Officials reported one firefighter with heat exhaustion on Friday; the Orange County Fire Authority said on Saturday that two firefighters had been taken to hospital with heat-related injuries. Orange County Fire Authority chief TJ McGovern said officials had received no reports of resident injuries or deaths. The authority said the cause remained under investigation.

The Norte Fire covered 465 acres by Friday evening and 570 acres by Saturday morning, when the Orange County Fire Authority reported 5% containment. Crews fought the fire from the ground and air overnight, and shelters opened in both cities. “Due to weather and topography, this fire moved fast. This was a wind-driven event,” McGovern said. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for several California counties, citing gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. It said Santa Ana winds would continue through Saturday and warned that fires could spread rapidly.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection listed the Norte Fire among 13 fires burning across the state. In Malibu, the Bryson Fire reached 147 acres and prompted evacuation orders in the Santa Monica Mountains. More than 400 firefighters were fighting the Bryson Fire. The Henderson Fire near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton exceeded 2,000 acres and forced officials to close Interstate 5 twice. The National Weather Service forecast temperatures up to 35C in southern California on Saturday and issued a heat advisory.