Thousands of Californians return home after firefighters gain ground on the Norte Fire that burned six coastal homes
By Saturday evening, all evacuation orders had been lifted except for one street in San Clemente. The Norte Fire ignited at 11:30am on Friday and expanded from 10 acres to more than 450 in roughly four hours, fuelled by Santa Ana winds. Approximately 16,000 residents of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano were told to leave. A pair of firefighters required hospital treatment, and investigators have yet to determine the cause.
Mountain bikers on the Las Ramblas trail found themselves trapped by a towering wall of flames.
Resident Robert Morris called it 'a wake-up call', the area's first fire since he arrived in 1995.
San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler warned that stronger winds 'could have been a whole lot worse'.
More
The IndependentFire crews battle Southern California blaze that burned 6 homes, led to the evacuation of 16,000APFirefighters gain ground on Southern California blaze, allowing thousands to return homeCBS NewsCalifornia homeowners describe terrifying moments when Norte fire spread, forced evacuationsAPPhotos show wildfire fueled by high winds engulfing coastal homes in Southern CaliforniaNYTFirefighters Race to Control California Wildfires as Winds Threaten to Spark MoreNY PostCyclists run into wall of flames from Norte Fire in Orange CountyNY PostFast-moving SoCal wildfire grows overnight after burning several homesCBS NewsNorte Fire continues to burn in San Juan Capistrano, leaving homes destroyed; evacuations remainNewsweekNorte fire images show multiple homes destroyed as blaze explodesCBS NewsThousands evacuate as massive California fires engulf homesThe TelegraphWildfires burn million-dollar homes in CaliforniaThe IndependentCalifornia wildfire forces thousands to evacuate as blaze destroys coastal homes