A wildfire driven by strong winds spread rapidly through Orange County, California, on the 16th, damaging multiple homes and prompting evacuation orders for residents, CNN, The Associated Press and other foreign media reported.
The Norte Fire, which began around noon that day, had grown to 570 acres (about 2.3 square kilometers) by evening with containment at 0%, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. The fire started in the coastal city of San Clemente and spread on the wind to San Juan Capistrano. Evacuation shelters were set up in each of the two cities.
Both coastal cities are surrounded by hills. San Juan Capistrano, with a population of 35,000, is known for its horse trails. San Clemente, with 62,000 residents, is known as the "Spanish Village by the Sea" and is a favorite destination for beachgoers and surfers.
The blaze is one of several fires that broke out in areas affected by the Santa Ana winds, the dry, warm gusts that blow from inland toward the coast. In Malibu, the Bryson Fire that started the previous day had placed more than 7,000 structures under evacuation orders or warnings as of that day. Two firefighters were injured and taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said. San Clemente City Council member Victor Cabral said the flames "came right up to the edge of the city," adding that the fire had spread to the edge of residential areas on the city's north side.
Evacuation orders were issued for several areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, covering about 4,600 households and 16,000 residents. At least six homes were damaged or destroyed. About 400 firefighters are battling the blaze, with another 400 en route to the scene, authorities said.
Because of the wildfires in Southern California, utilities temporarily cut power to tens of thousands of households over concerns that their equipment could spark fires. Some past wildfires in California have started at power facilities. As a result, utilities in recent years have preemptively shut off electricity when dry, strong winds blow.