Santa Ana Winds Drive Southern California Fires; Six Homes Lost in Orange County
The Norte Fire forced evacuation orders for about 16,000 residents near San Clemente, Malibu's Bryson Fire grew to 147 acres, and power was cut to tens of thousands.
By Watchman Report staff ·
Wind-driven brush fires broke out across Southern California this week under Red Flag Warnings, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. The Norte Fire began around 11:30 a.m. Friday near San Clemente and spread into the San Juan Capistrano area. Officials said it had burned at least 570 acres, destroyed at least six homes and injured two firefighters, with evacuation orders affecting about 16,000 residents and 6,000 homes. It was 0% contained in the latest update.
In Los Angeles County, the Bryson Fire started Thursday, Oct. 15, at about 4:41 p.m. near Encinal Canyon Road above Malibu. By Friday evening it had burned 147 acres and was 39% contained, with no structures damaged or destroyed, according to ABC7 and county officials. Evacuation orders remained for two zones, with warnings for a dozen more, and Malibu schools and City Hall were closed. The cause is under investigation. Forward progress was stopped on a third blaze, the Peak Fire in Azusa.
At the height of its public safety power shutoffs, Southern California Edison cut power to more than 100,000 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, ABC7 reported. "Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds, combined with low humidity and dry vegetation, will keep the fire weather threat high across LA County today and into the weekend," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said. The Red Flag Warning runs until 8 p.m. Saturday. One evacuee, Zachary Torgesson, told ABC7, "In the end I'm just leaving it all to God because he's the only person I can count on right now."
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