Evacuation orders have been lifted around San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano after the Norte Fire tore through 570 acres.
Via La Mirada north of Calle Esperanza will remain closed to vehicle traffic and the burn scar area at the Patriot Trail is closed, according OC Sheriff Department Cpt. Justin Chevalier.
OC Fire Authority officials said they contained about 25% of the fire by Saturday evening.
“Due to the work that the firefighters and law enforcement partners did yesterday, last evening and today, we have increased our containment to 25% and the fire is still staying within the footprint that was established last night,” said OC Fire Authority Fire Chief TJ McGovern in a video posted to Facebook this evening.
“We’re going to be lifting the evacuation zones.”
It was also announced this morning that the affected areas will be receiving funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to support the fire fighting.
“By securing this federal assistance, we are ensuring our local and state partners have the critical resources they need to aggressively fight the Norte Fire, protect lives and property, and keep Californians safe,” wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom in the press release.
The fire sprung up near the Prima Deschecha landfill around midday Friday, spreading from 10 acres to 250 in an hour, with the Santa Ana winds and dry brush fueling the blaze.
According to Greg Barta, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, Saturday morning, six homes have been damaged by the flames, two firefighters have been injured and there is still no cause of the fire identified.
