San Clemente, United States – A towering column of smoke rose over the hills of southern Orange County in California on Friday, October 16, as the Norte Fire tore through brush on the border of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano less than an hour after it broke out.

Corleon Rimzano filmed the scene at 12:18 p.m. from a home about 5 kilometers south of the blaze. The dense gray smoke billows up behind a ridge lined with houses and palm trees, then mushrooms into a white cloud against the clear blue sky as an aircraft crosses in front of the plume. “That is nuts,” a child can be heard saying, as another adds, “I do not want to live over there.” “Not too far from us. We mountain bike over there all the time,” a man says. “Look at that smoke, man.”

The fire started at about 11:33 a.m. in the area of Portico Del Norte in San Clemente, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, it grew to 250 acres within an hour and reached 465 acres by mid-afternoon, spreading into San Juan Capistrano. Seven homes were destroyed or damaged on Friday, and firefighters helped residents flee, including an elderly man evacuated from his home with his medical equipment. About 6,000 homes and 16,000 residents were initially under evacuation orders, according to San Clemente police. The 5 Freeway was closed in both directions, and shelters opened in both cities.

The blaze broke out as Santa Ana winds, a heat advisory and red flag warnings brought dangerous fire conditions across Southern California, with other fires burning in Malibu and Azusa. All evacuation orders for the Norte Fire were lifted by Saturday evening, and by Sunday the fire had burned 570 acres and was 60% contained, with 467 firefighters still assigned. The cause is under investigation. “We’re going to be here for a number of days. We don’t want rekindling,” said fire authority Capt. Steve Concialdi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download