LOS ANGELES, CA – Five wildfires, led by the Norte Fire in Orange County and the Bryson Fire in Malibu, were burning across Southern California on Friday, Oct. 16, as the first Santa Ana wind event of the season brought 90-degree heat and low humidity, according to fire agencies.
The Peak Fire in Azusa and the Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton began Thursday, Oct. 15. The Bryson Fire started that evening, and the Norte and Scales fires ignited Friday morning.
Hundreds of firefighters were assigned across the incidents. The largest evacuation affected Orange County, where the Norte Fire burned near San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
Norte Fire forces evacuations in Orange County
The Norte Fire started at 11:33 a.m. Friday at Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente, according to the incident page. The page lists it as an Orange County Fire Authority incident rather than a CAL FIRE incident, and says the cause is under investigation.
The fire reached 570 acres by the 7:26 p.m. update. Evacuation orders covered zones SCL12, SCL13, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10, with shelters set up at the San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente community centers.
The incident page said, “Four homes off Via La Mirada in San Juan Capistrano have been impacted.” Officials had not released a count of any other damaged structures in the information available Friday.
Governor secures federal grant for Norte Fire
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California secured a Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Norte Fire, according to a statement from the Governor’s Office. The grant provides 75% reimbursement of eligible fire suppression costs.
The statement described the fire as fast-moving and said it ignited just after 11:30 a.m. in the San Clemente area, south of San Juan Capistrano. At the time of the statement, the fire had burned about 465 acres and threatened nearly 13,000 residents, and evacuation orders affected about 4,000 homes.
On Thursday, Newsom directed the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to position five fire engines, one bulldozer, one water tender, one helicopter and 45 firefighters and support staff in Orange County.
Bryson Fire burns in the Santa Monica Mountains
The Bryson Fire started at about 5 p.m. Thursday near Encinal Canyon Road in Malibu, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page. It had burned 147 acres and was 17% contained at the last update on that page.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department manages the fire, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in unified command. The page lists 414 personnel, two helicopters, 64 engines and 11 crews assigned. Shelters were open at Agoura High School and the Agoura Animal Care Center, and large animals were being taken to the Pierce College Equestrian Center.
According to initial reports, the fire prompted closures on Encinal Canyon Road, Decker Road, Kanan Road and parts of Mulholland Highway.
County officials urge residents to leave when ordered
Los Angeles County reported that firefighters had reached 17% containment on a fire of 146 acres, according to a county news release. The release said no structure loss or damage had been reported and that fire personnel had suffered only minor injuries.
Evacuation orders were in effect for zones KAN-U017 and SYC-U016-A, with warnings for several other zones. Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and dry vegetation would keep the fire weather threat high.
Sheriff Robert Luna said that anyone who is told by someone at their door that an evacuation order is in effect should leave immediately. Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath thanked the firefighters who fought the fire through the night.
The Los Angeles County Probation Department said it moved 38 youths from Campus Vernon Kilpatrick to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar.
Henderson Fire grows to more than 2,000 acres at Camp Pendleton
The Henderson Fire started at 2:35 p.m. Thursday at Henderson Street and Brown Street on Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page. It had burned 2,080 acres and was 20% contained as of the 7:25 p.m. update Friday.
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department manages the fire with a San Diego County Type 3 incident management team. Interstate 5 was fully closed between Vandergrift Boulevard and Basilone Road and later reopened in both directions. The evacuation order for the Las Flores (41 Area) was lifted.
Peak Fire in Azusa and Scales Fire near San Onofre
The Peak Fire started at 1:43 p.m. Thursday north of San Gabriel Canyon Road and Mirador Drive in Azusa, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page. It reached 43 acres and was 41% contained at the 7:44 p.m. update.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service’s Angeles National Forest are in unified command. A shelter was open at the Memorial Park North Recreational Center in Azusa.
The Scales Fire started Friday near San Onofre in San Diego County and burned about 20 acres. According to initial reports, it led to the evacuation of campgrounds at San Onofre State Beach and a shutdown of the rail line between Orange and San Diego counties.
Fire weather threat remains high
Officials had not announced causes for the Bryson, Henderson, Scales or Peak fires. The Norte Fire remained under investigation, and evacuation orders were still in place in five zones in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
Fire officials said the combination of Santa Ana winds, low humidity and dry vegetation would keep conditions favorable for fire growth. Residents in affected areas are being told to follow evacuation orders issued by their local agencies.
