SAN CLEMENTE, CA — While Orange County fire crews continue mopping up hot spots left from the wind-driven Norte Fire Monday, local families who have been impacted by the flames are struggling to adjust to new circumstances.
Orange County firefighters lent a helping hand to a particular family who had been devastated by the flames.
"An Orange County Fire Authority strike team helped a resident whose home was destroyed in the first hours of the fire," the authority said in a statement. "In a moment of indescribable devastation for a member of our community, our firefighters' role shifted from suppression to compassion — providing both a shoulder to lean on and a helping hand."
According to the authority, firefighters used specialized equipment to locate and find a safe that had been buried in the home's ashes.
Once firefighters were able to open the safe, they found its contents intact and untouched despite the surrounding devastation.
"While it is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of this homeowner's loss, recovering those priceless family heirlooms meant the world to her," firefighters said. "As we continue extinguishing hot spots and increasing containment of the Norte Fire, our hearts remain with everyone affected."
Firefighters worked through Sunday night to clear lines of vegetation around the 570-acre Norte Fire, which burned in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, with containment growing to 75 percent Monday.
The fire ignited at around 11:30 a.m. Friday in San Clemente, in the area of Portico Del Norte, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
The flames, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, bloomed to 250 acres within an hour and destroyed or damaged seven homes.
"Crews will continue working to extinguish hot spots and strengthen containment lines," the agency said Monday morning.
OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said over the weekend that firefighters expected to remain in the area for several days to prevent the fire from rekindling.
"We're going to be here for a number of days. We don't want rekindling," Concialdi said. "We don't want those embers to then catch a palm tree or some vegetation in another area or next to homes."
The wind-whipped blaze prompted evacuation orders in multiple neighborhoods of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, including streets off Camino Las Ramblas down to the San Diego (5) Freeway. According to San Clemente Chief of Police Services Justin Chevalier, approximately 6,000 homes and 16,000 residents were initially reported under evacuation orders.
Some evacuation orders were lifted Saturday morning, allowing evacuated San Clemente residents to return. Partial repopulation in San Juan Capistrano initially included the Stallion Ridge community, San Juan Hills High School and the landfill off La Pata, before the remaining evacuation orders were lifted Saturday evening.
Via La Mirada remained closed to vehicle traffic north of Esperanza to allow OCFA emergency vehicles to continue working. People were urged to avoid the burn scar area.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
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