Thousands return home in California as firefighters gain ground on the Norte Fire that burned six coastal homes
Evacuation orders were lifted on Saturday evening for all but one street in San Clemente. The blaze broke out at 11:30am on Friday and grew from 10 acres to more than 450 in about four hours. Santa Ana winds drove it into San Juan Capistrano, forcing out about 16,000 residents. Two firefighters were hospitalised and no civilians were hurt, but the cause is still under investigation.
The fire had scorched 570 acres and was just 5% contained by Saturday morning.
Mountain bikers on the Las Ramblas trail rode straight into a towering wall of flames.
San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler: 'This could have been a whole lot worse.'
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