Norte Fire rips from San Clemente into San Juan Capistrano, burning homes

The Norte Fire blew up fast on Friday, Oct. 16. It started around 11:30 a.m. near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente, east of Interstate 5, and strong Santa Ana winds pushed it into San Juan Capistrano, KTLA reported.

Within an hour it had burned about 250 acres, NBC Los Angeles reported. By the time Juice Unlocked posted that afternoon, it was at 465 acres with 0% containment, and homes were burning in San Juan Capistrano.

Homes lost, thousands evacuated

OCFA reported at least four homes affected early that afternoon. The final count was seven homes destroyed or damaged, KTLA and NBC Los Angeles reported, while firefighters saved thousands of others.

About 6,000 homes and 16,000 residents were initially under evacuation orders, San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier told NBC Los Angeles. Orders covered five zones in the two cities, sheriff's deputies went door to door, and shelters opened at community centers in both cities, The National News Desk reported.

Capistrano Unified dismissed students early at 10 schools that Friday, according to NBC Los Angeles. Two firefighters were hurt, one of them taken to a hospital for heat exhaustion, KTLA reported. FOX 11 reported no residents were injured.

How crews turned it around

More than 500 firefighters were on the fire Friday, an OCFA spokesperson said, with crews attacking it from the ground and the air. Cal Fire secured a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant to help cover the cost, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Evacuation orders started lifting Saturday morning in San Clemente, and the remaining San Juan Capistrano orders were lifted Saturday evening, according to NBC Los Angeles. Via La Mirada stayed closed to traffic north of Esperanza, and the burn scar was closed until further notice.

By early Monday afternoon, Oct. 19, the fire was about 75% contained at 570 acres, KTLA reported. "We're going to be here for a number of days. We don't want rekindling," OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi told NBC Los Angeles. Cal Fire's incident page listed the Norte Fire at 570 acres and 100% contained as of Oct. 22.

What caused it?

Officials have not said. Cal Fire lists the cause as under investigation, with OCFA as the lead agency.

A San Juan Capistrano resident who had to evacuate has sued San Diego Gas & Electric, alleging the utility caused the fire, FOX 11 reported. SDG&E confirmed an outage on Circuit 197 in San Clemente at 11:31 a.m. that Friday, but said there is "currently no basis" to connect its equipment to the ignition and that it is cooperating with OCFA. The lawsuit's claims have not been proven in court.

What’s next

OCFA is still investigating the cause, and the resident's lawsuit against SDG&E is pending.