official data (CAL FIRE incident pages for the Norte, Henderson and Bryson fires, Oct 17)
Santa Ana fires leave evacuation orders standing in Orange and Los Angeles counties
WILDFIRE // ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
570acres
Norte Fire, San Clemente: 5% contained, six homes damaged or destroyed, evacuation orders in five zones (OCFA via CAL FIRE)
The first Santa Ana winds of the season came through Southern California this week, and three fires are still burning behind them. In south Orange County, people are still out of their homes.
Key facts
- Norte Fire
- 570 acres, 5% contained; six homes damaged or destroyed; started 11:33 AM PDT Oct 16 (OCFA via CAL FIRE, updated 9:47 AM PDT Oct 17)
- Norte evacuations
- Orders in zones SCL12, SCL13, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10; FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant secured (CAL FIRE page)
- Henderson Fire
- 3,132 acres, 35% contained, one structure destroyed, Camp Pendleton (Camp Pendleton Fire Department via CAL FIRE, updated 10:43 AM PDT Oct 17)
- Henderson road
- I-5 closed both ways from Vandergrift Blvd to Basilone Rd on Oct 16; reopened 5:14 PM PDT per CHP (CAL FIRE page)
- Bryson Fire
- 147 acres, 52% contained, near Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu; orders in 2 zones, warnings in 12; one firefighter injury (LA County Fire via CAL FIRE)
Grasses and other vegetation remain extremely dry and will continue to pose a fire risk until significant, soaking rainfall occurs.
Henderson Fire morning briefing, Oct 17, via CAL FIRE
Note
The Norte Fire started at 11:33 AM on Friday, October 16, near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente, and grew to 570 acres by Friday evening. On Saturday morning the Orange County Fire Authority had it at 5% containment, with six homes damaged or destroyed. Evacuation orders remain in five zones in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, SCL12, SCL13, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10, with shelters open at both cities' community centers and the Boys and Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano. California secured a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant for the fire overnight.
To the south, the Henderson Fire has burned 3,132 acres on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton since Thursday afternoon and was 35% contained as of 10:43 AM Pacific Saturday, with one structure destroyed. It closed Interstate 5 in both directions between Vandergrift Boulevard and Basilone Road on Friday before the highway reopened that evening. The incident team said the jump in acreage reflects better mapping, and that winds should weaken and humidity recover by Saturday evening.
Near Malibu, the Bryson Fire is 147 acres and 52% contained. Los Angeles County still has evacuation orders in two zones and warnings in twelve, and one firefighter has been injured.
The wind is easing. The brush is not getting any wetter.
Why it matters
This was only the first Santa Ana event of the season, and it lit three significant fires in two days across three counties. The fuels that carried them are still dry, and the season is just starting.
Sources
- CAL FIRE: Norte Fire incident page (Orange County Fire Authority)
- CAL FIRE: Henderson Fire incident page (Camp Pendleton Fire Department)
- CAL FIRE: Bryson Fire incident page (Los Angeles County Fire Department)
- Hero data: CAL FIRE incident page, Norte Fire
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
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