Chaotic scene as Norte fire burns homes in Orange County, fierce winds fan other blazes – Los Angeles Times

Chaotic scene as Norte fire burns homes in Orange County, fierce winds fan other blazes  Los Angeles Times

Fierce Santa Ana winds caused a chaotic afternoon as a fast-moving fire burned through multiple hillside homes in south Orange County while a nearby blaze in San Onofre shut down the 5 Freeway for hours. Hot, smoky conditions forced residents in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano to flee and created traffic gridlock from Orange County to Oceanside as the key north-south highway was impacted by multiple fires just miles apart. The Norte fire ignited in bushy foothills south of San Juan Capistrano around noon and quickly grew to 465 acres, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Six homes were damaged in a hillside enclave of multimillion-dollar properties near Via La Mirada, as officials urged residents to heed evacuation orders and head to local emergency shelters.

Linda Verraster was on the deck behind her home in San Clemente, just south of the evacuation zone, on Friday afternoon, watching for signs it might be time to leave. Temperatures in the area were in the mid-90s and winds howled with gusts of up to 35 mph, a less-than-ideal situation for firefighters. Verraster had already filled her cars with gas and began preparing what she would grab if the fire kept growing. “We’re watching the wind. I’m getting my cat carriers ready just in case,” she said. “It’s not great.” The Orange