Norte Fire 60% Contained at 570 Acres After All Evacuation Orders Lifted; Six Homes Damaged or Destroyed in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

The Norte Fire was 570 acres and 60% contained Sunday evening, Oct. 18 (CAL FIRE, 5:10 p.m.), up from 50% that morning. All neighborhood evacuation orders in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano were lifted at 6 p.m. Saturday and evacuation shelters closed Sunday; the burn area remains closed as an active fire hazard and Via La Mirada is closed north of Esperanza. OCFA says six homes were damaged or destroyed; the cause is under investigation.

MACHINE-READABLE markdown · JSON

CITIES AFFECTED

SAN CLEMENTESAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

STARTED

3 days ago

Oct 16, 2026, 11:33 PT

EVIDENCE

17 items · 13 areas

SITUATION MAP

13 areas · 9 signals

WHO

Orange County Fire Authority (incident command); incident commander Kevin Fetterman; Fire Chief TJ McGovern. FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant secured by Gov. Newsom's office. About 16,000 residents under mandatory evacuation.

WHAT

Wind-driven wildfire on the San Clemente–San Juan Capistrano border: 570 acres and 60% contained Sunday evening, Oct. 18, with all neighborhood evacuation orders lifted. OCFA says six homes were damaged or destroyed; cause under investigation.

WHERE

Started near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in Forster Ranch, San Clemente, and burned north into San Juan Capistrano, including homes off Via La Mirada on the city line. The burn area and Via La Mirada north of Esperanza remain closed.

WHEN

Reported at 11:33 a.m. PDT Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. All neighborhood evacuation orders lifted at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17; 60% contained at 5:10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.

WHY

Conditions included elevated winds, low humidity, and high fire danger. A Wind Advisory and High Wind Warning were in effect for inland Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains through Saturday midday. Cause of ignition is under investigation.

▸ NARRATIVE

Current Status

As of Sunday evening, Oct. 18, the Norte Fire was 570 acres and 60% contained (CAL FIRE, 5:10 p.m.), up from 50% Sunday morning, 25% Saturday evening and 5% Saturday morning. Crews are continuing to strengthen containment lines and mop up hot spots.

OCFA says six homes were damaged or destroyed, most believed to be on the San Juan Capistrano side off Via La Mirada; it has not separated destroyed from damaged. Fire Chief TJ McGovern said two firefighters were hospitalized, one with significant injuries; both were reported stable. No civilian injuries or deaths have been reported. The cause is under investigation.

Evacuations

All neighborhood evacuation orders have been lifted. SCL13 and SJC10-B were lifted at 12:18 p.m. Saturday; the remaining zones, SCL12, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10-A, were lifted effective 6 p.m., OCFA announced at 6:21 p.m. Residents may return but should stay alert for changes.

Still closed: the burn area itself, which the county map shows as an "unsafe area" under a mandatory order, and Via La Mirada north of Esperanza, which remained closed to traffic. Check an address on the OC zone map.

Shelters: all Norte Fire evacuation shelters closed at 12:38 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Public information line: 714-628-7085; updates at ocsheriff.gov/nortefire.

Schools and Public Facilities

Capistrano Unified dismissed San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano schools early on Friday, Oct. 16, moved students from campuses inside the evacuation zones to Capistrano Valley High for pickup, and canceled district sports and after-school activities. Mission San Juan Capistrano closed its grounds because of smoke. OC Waste & Recycling closed the Prima Deshecha Landfill and the San Juan Capistrano household hazardous waste center on Saturday.

Weather and Air Quality

NWS San Diego's Wind Advisory for inland Orange County and High Wind Warning for the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills ran until noon Saturday; the Heat Advisory runs until 8 p.m. Saturday. No Red Flag Warning was issued for Orange County. South Coast AQMD's smoke advisory for San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel ran through 10 a.m. Saturday.

▸ EVENT TIMELINE

25 moments

Oct 16, 11:33(3 days ago)
Fire reported near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in Forster Ranch, San Clemente (CAL FIRE start time).
Oct 16, 12:30(3 days ago)
CAL FIRE logs 50 acres with structures threatened.
Oct 16, 12:46(3 days ago)
OCFA orders evacuations for San Juan Capistrano zones 4, 5 and 10 and San Clemente zone 12; San Clemente zone 13 is added at 12:55 p.m.
Oct 16, 12:58(3 days ago)
Capistrano Unified dismisses San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano schools early.
Oct 16, 13:04(3 days ago)
OCFA reports 250 acres.
Oct 16, 13:55(3 days ago)
OCFA opens evacuation centers at the San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente community centers.
Oct 16, 14:24(2 days ago)
OCFA says four homes off Via La Mirada have been impacted.
Oct 16, 14:38(2 days ago)
OCFA reports 465 acres.
Oct 16, 15:48(2 days ago)
South Coast AQMD issues a smoke advisory for south Orange County through 10 a.m. Saturday.
Oct 16, 17:00(2 days ago)
An Orange County all-hazard Type 3 incident management team takes command, incident commander Kevin Fetterman later said.
Oct 16, 17:45(2 days ago)
OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi says most of the fire has been knocked down, though some homes are still burning and crews will mop up for days (CBS, ABC7).
Oct 16, 18:30(2 days ago)
At an evening briefing, Fire Chief TJ McGovern says two firefighters were hospitalized, one with significant injuries; about 400 firefighters are on the lines with 400 more on the way.
Oct 16, 18:37(2 days ago)
Gov. Newsom's office says FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Norte Fire.
Oct 16, 19:00(2 days ago)
Fetterman says evacuation orders are not expected to lift Friday night and crews will work through the weekend to keep the fire within its current footprint (NBC4 broadcast).
Oct 16, 19:27(2 days ago)
CAL FIRE raises the fire's size to 570 acres; no containment reported.
Oct 16, 19:33(2 days ago)
OCFA opens an overnight shelter at the Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano (animals allowed) and lists pet shelters in Tustin and San Clemente.
Oct 16, 20:48(2 days ago)
OCFA says damage-assessment teams have yet to survey burned areas (NBC Los Angeles).
Oct 17(2 days ago)
OC Waste & Recycling keeps Prima Deshecha Landfill and the San Juan Capistrano household hazardous waste center closed Saturday.
Oct 17, 07:53(2 days ago)
OCFA reports the first containment: 5% at 570 acres after crews worked overnight on containment lines.
Oct 17, 11:08(1 day ago)
The county evacuation map splits zone SJC10 into SJC10-A (west, near the fire's origin) and SJC10-B (east, toward Avenida La Pata); both remain under orders.
Oct 17, 12:18(1 day ago)
Evacuation orders for SCL13 and SJC10-B are lifted; orders remain for SCL12, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10-A. Officials say lifted areas remain threatened by an active fire line and wind.
Oct 17, 18:00(1 day ago)
OCFA lifts all remaining evacuation orders in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano effective 6 p.m., with containment at 25%. Via La Mirada stays closed north of Esperanza, and the burn scar remains an active fire hazard area closed until further notice.
Oct 18, 10:20(about 16 hours ago)
CAL FIRE reports the Norte Fire 50% contained at 570 acres.
Oct 18, 12:38(about 14 hours ago)
All Norte Fire evacuation shelters close.
Oct 18, 17:10(about 9 hours ago)
CAL FIRE reports the Norte Fire 60% contained at 570 acres.

▸ EVIDENCE

9 items

FIROrange County7 minutes agoSIG 91
🚨 Evacuation Order: US-CA-Orange3975
Evacuation Order for US-CA-Orange3975 in Orange County
FIROrange Countyabout 9 hours agoSIG 60
Norte Fire
570 acres — 60% contained
TFCCapistranoabout 9 hours ago
FIRE-Report of Fire — I5 N / CAMINO CAPISTRANO CAM CAP
-- 3011 EMINECIA DEL NORTE -- (Capistrano)
NEW1 day ago
ABC7: Evacuation orders issued as wildfire burns in Orange County, California
The Norte Fire ignited midday Friday in San Clemente, with fire officials warning that wind gusts are causing a "dangerous rate of spread."
NEW3 days ago
Voice of OC: Fire Flares up in San Clemente near Prima Deschecha Landfill
Evacuation orders went out shortly after noon on Friday, with firefighters asking people to avoid the area. Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate
WTH3 days ago
Wind Advisory — Orange County Inland
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 12:54PM PDT until October 17 at 12:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
TFCOC3 days ago
FIRE-Report of Fire — Avenida La Pata / Camino Del Rio
OC
TFCCapistrano3 days ago
FIRE-Report of Fire — Avenida La Pata / Sr74
Capistrano
NEW3 days ago
NBC LA: At least 6 homes burned in Orange County's Norte Fire
A fast-moving wildfire fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds spread through hundreds of acres in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano on Friday, burning multiple homes and forcing 16,000 residents in several neighborhoods to evacuate. The 570-acre Norte Fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. near Portico Del

▸ FACTOIDS

DOCSize and containment (OCFA / CAL FIRE)
CAL FIRE's log: 10 acres at 12:04 p.m., 50 acres at 12:30 p.m., 250 acres at 1:07 p.m. and 465 acres at 2:38 p.m. Oct. 16 (OCFA), then 570 acres from 7:27 p.m. OCFA reported the first containment, 5% at 570 acres, at 7:53 a.m. Oct. 17 after crews worked overnight to strengthen containment lines. Containment reached 25% at 570 acres by 6 p.m. Oct. 17 (OCFA via NBC Los Angeles; CAL FIRE, 6:28 p.m.). Containment reached 50% at 10:20 a.m. Oct. 18 (CAL FIRE). Containment reached 60% at 5:10 p.m. Oct. 18 (CAL FIRE). Cause is under investigation.
SOURCE →
DOCHomes burned and firefighter injuries
OCFA says six homes were damaged or destroyed, most believed to be on the San Juan Capistrano side off Via La Mirada; its 2:24 p.m. Oct. 16 post first counted four homes impacted. NBC Los Angeles reported aerial images suggested eight or more. OCFA has not separated destroyed from damaged, and damage-assessment teams had yet to report. Fire Chief TJ McGovern said two firefighters were hospitalized, one with significant injuries; both were reported stable. No civilian injuries or deaths have been reported.
SOURCE →
DOCEvacuation orders
OCFA ordered evacuations at 12:46 p.m. Oct. 16 for SJC04, SJC05, SJC10 and SCL12, adding SCL13 at 12:55 p.m.; about 16,000 residents were under orders Friday evening (OCFA via NBC Los Angeles). On Oct. 17 the county split SJC10 into SJC10-A (west) and SJC10-B (east). At 12:18 p.m. Oct. 17, orders for SCL13 and SJC10-B were lifted; orders remain for SCL12, SJC04, SJC05 and SJC10-A. Officials said the lifted areas remain threatened by an active fire line and windy conditions. By about 6 p.m. Oct. 17 all remaining zone orders (SCL12, SJC04, SJC05, SJC10-A) were lifted; the county map keeps the fire perimeter itself under a mandatory order as an unsafe area, and Via La Mirada north of Esperanza stayed closed to traffic.
SOURCE →
DOCShelters and hotline
All Norte Fire evacuation shelters closed at 12:38 p.m. Oct. 18 (CAL FIRE). They had operated at the Boys & Girls Club, 1 Via Positiva, San Juan Capistrano (overnight, animals allowed) and the San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente community centers. Public information line: 714-628-7085; updates at ocsheriff.gov/nortefire.
SOURCE →
DOCSchools and closures
Capistrano Unified dismissed San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano schools early on Oct. 16, moved students from campuses inside the evacuation zones to Capistrano Valley High for pickup, and canceled district sports and after-school activities. Mission San Juan Capistrano closed its grounds because of smoke. OC Waste & Recycling closed Prima Deshecha Landfill and the San Juan Capistrano household hazardous waste center on Oct. 17. No Saturday school closures were announced.
SOURCE →
DEFAgency in charge
The Orange County Fire Authority has jurisdiction; CAL FIRE's incident page republishes OCFA's updates and lists it as "not a CAL FIRE incident." An Orange County all-hazard Type 3 incident management team took command at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 under incident commander Kevin Fetterman. About 400 firefighters were on the lines Friday evening with 400 more on the way, with help from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and CAL FIRE.
SOURCE →
DOCWeather and air quality
NWS San Diego's Wind Advisory for inland Orange County and High Wind Warning for the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills ran until noon Saturday, Oct. 17, and its Heat Advisory for the Orange County coast and inland areas until 8 p.m. Saturday. No Red Flag Warning was issued for Orange County. South Coast AQMD's smoke advisory for San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel ran from 4 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday.
SOURCE →
DOCFederal fire-management grant
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said at 6:37 p.m. Oct. 16 that the state secured a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Norte Fire, which reimburses eligible firefighting costs.
SOURCE →

▸ SOURCES

6 links