Climate & Environment
Orange County Wildfire Forces Evacuations as Santa Ana Winds Intensify
A fast‑moving wildfire in Orange County, the Norte Fire, ignited in San Clemente on Friday and burned 250 acres (101 hectares) by 2:00 p.m. local time. The blaze destroyed structures and threatened nearby homes, prompting evacuation orders. Live footage from KABC showed the fire consuming buildings. The San Juan Capistrano School District canceled sports and after‑school programs and dismissed several schools early Friday. At least one firefighter was injured, and hundreds of personnel are working to contain a Malibu wildfire before winds increase again.
The Bryson Fire in Los Angeles County had burned 147 acres as of 10:39 a.m. Friday. County officials reported that more than 7,200 structures were threatened and only 17 % of the perimeter was contained. A briefing on Friday morning noted a large response was underway before a multi‑day Santa Ana windstorm could worsen conditions. The U.S. National Weather Service forecasted gusts near the Bryson Fire of up to 60 mph (97 km/h) by Friday afternoon, with higher elevations in the San Gabriel Mountains potentially reaching 80 mph. Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, said the period from morning through afternoon was the most critical during the red‑flag event.
The Bryson Fire lies within 10 miles of major burn scars from recent years. The Franklin Fire had destroyed 20 structures around Malibu just before Christmas 2024, and the Eaton and Palisades fires in early January 2025 killed 31 people and caused billions in damage. Although Santa Ana winds fueled those blazes, forecaster Rich Thompson said current fire conditions in Southern California are not as severe, noting that some areas have recently received rain that may limit spread.
More than 400 personnel were deployed to fight the Malibu blaze as of Friday morning. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
The largest active blaze in Southern California was the Henderson Fire in San Diego County near Camp Pendleton, which had burned almost 2,100 acres with 0 % containment as of midday Friday. The fire caused closures of north and southbound lanes on Interstate 5, per the California Department of Transportation.
To prevent new fires, PG&E Corp. and Edison International’s Southern California utility shut down circuits serving tens of thousands of customers this week. Edison had turned off power to more than 135,000 customers as of 2:30 p.m. local time, with restoration work potentially beginning Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
How many acres did the Norte Fire burn by 2:00 p.m. local time?
The Norte Fire burned 250 acres (101 hectares) by 2:00 p.m. local time.
Were there any injuries reported from the wildfire?
At least one firefighter was injured and transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
How many customers were affected by the power shutdowns from Edison International?
Edison turned off power to more than 135,000 customers as of 2:30 p.m. local time.