Evacuation orders as fast-moving California wildfire burns homes — SkimNews
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- Norte Fire erupted Friday in Orange County and grew to 465 acres by evening, damaging or destroying six homes in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano communities.
- Bryson Fire in Malibu's Santa Monica mountains has expanded to 147 acres, prompting evacuation orders and drawing more than 400 firefighters to the affluent coastal city.
- Henderson Fire in San Diego County, which ignited Thursday near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, has grown past 2,000 acres and twice forced closure of the I-5 highway that runs the length of the US West Coast.
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports 13 wildfires burning across the state, driven by Santa Ana winds that peaked Friday with gusts topping 40mph in the Los Angeles area.
- National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for several counties and a heat advisory forecasting temperatures of 95F (35C) on Saturday — far above average for this time of year.
- Division 3 Fire Chief Mark Backoff said one firefighter suffered heat exhaustion battling the Norte Fire and that additional resources are en route, while warning the dangerous winds will persist into early Saturday.
Why it matters: A single Santa Ana wind event has produced 13 simultaneous wildfires across Southern California, with one firefighter already injured and a critical West Coast artery — the I-5 — shuttered twice in 48 hours. The fact that the winds struck out of season and coincided with well-above-average temperatures amplifies the danger into early Saturday for residents and the hundreds of firefighters on the lines.
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