Norte Fire Burns Homes in Orange County as Santa Ana Winds Rage

A wind-driven wildfire tore through hillside neighborhoods on the border of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano on Friday, damaging or destroying at least six homes and forcing mandatory evacuations across south Orange County, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The Norte Fire had burned about 465 acres and was 0% contained as of Friday afternoon, according to figures from the Orange County Fire Authority and CAL FIRE reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. OCFA Division 3 Chief Mark Backoff told ABC7 that six homes had been damaged or destroyed and that one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

Several homes were destroyed in San Juan Capistrano when the Norte Fire reached this neighborhood.

Aerial view of the area shows the destruction the wildfire left behind.

Read the latest at https://t.co/j4iyZPAfKY pic.twitter.com/jKEkCnIPsP

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 16, 2026

The fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. local time near Portico Del Norte in San Clemente, according to OCFA, and quickly pushed into San Juan Capistrano as strong Santa Ana winds swept the region. CAL FIRE put the fire at roughly 250 acres by 2 p.m., the Los Angeles Times reported, and OCFA estimated it at 465 acres by 2:40 p.m., according to NBC Los Angeles.

Homes lost on Via La Mirada

The fire swept through residential streets near Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano, NBC Los Angeles reported, and aerial video showed flames tearing through the roofs of several buildings. While OCFA confirmed six homes damaged or destroyed, aerial images suggested eight or more homes could be affected, according to NBC Los Angeles. An ABC7 crew on the ground reported seeing at least five destroyed homes as firefighters worked hot spots near Via La Mirada and Calle Esperanza.

Officials have not announced a cause, and no deaths have been reported, based on the latest updates from ABC7 and NBC Los Angeles. ABC7 reported that crews appeared to make significant progress on the fire by early Friday evening.

Evacuations, shelters and school closures

Mandatory evacuation orders covered San Juan Capistrano Zones 4, 5 and 10 and San Clemente Zones 12 and 13, according to the Los Angeles Times. “If you are in one of these zones, leave immediately,” OCFA wrote on X, as quoted by the Times.

Shelters opened at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, and the San Clemente Community Center, 100 Calle Seville, according to the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles. Capistrano Unified School District dismissed students early at nine campuses, including San Clemente High School and San Juan Hills High School, the Times reported.

A historical analysis from CAL FIRE indicates the fire appears to have started on a hillside with no recorded wildfire since at least 1950, ABC7 reported.

Fires across Southern California

The Norte Fire was one of several blazes sparked as Santa Ana winds hit the region. Firefighters were also battling the Bryson Fire in Malibu, which forced evacuations, and the Peak Fire in Azusa, where forward progress had been stopped, according to ABC7. The station reported that the wind event left tens of thousands of Southern California residents without power.

The danger is not over. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills are under a High Wind Warning through noon Saturday, according to the National Weather Service as reported by ABC7. A heat advisory is also in effect through Saturday evening, ABC7 reported.

Residents can check evacuation zones on the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website, according to the Los Angeles Times. Daily Beltway will update this story as officials release new figures on acreage, containment and homes lost.

Sources

• ABC7 Eyewitness News on X: aerial view of homes destroyed in San Juan Capistrano
• ABC7 Los Angeles: 6 homes damaged or destroyed by Norte Fire, 1 firefighter injured, OCFA says
• Los Angeles Times: Norte fire evacuations, shelters, school closures
• NBC Los Angeles: Wind-driven Norte Fire burns homes, forces evacuations
• Sacramento Bee: Norte Fire burns 465.4 acres in Orange County

Reporting by Daily Beltway.