Norte fire destroys multiple homes in Orange County

The Norte fire has burned 570 acres in the area of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, fire officials said late Friday night. There is still 0% containment on the blaze.

Evacuations are expected to remain in place throughout the night, according to Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Mike Yeun.

“Our number one objective is the safety of the community and our firefighters. And when it’s safe to do so, our second priority would be: get people back into their homes,” he said in a video posted on X.

San Juan Capistrano resident Quentin Ortega, 41, who works in logistics and operations at a cancer testing center, was at work when he learned from a family member that his home was under an evacuation order.

He wanted to stop at home to pick up a few things, but was unable to get there because the roads were blocked off. Instead, he drove to the San Juan Capistrano evacuation shelter, where he picked up water bottles and ate a Chick-fil-A meal. Attendance at the Red Cross-operated shelter was sparse in the afternoon, he said, but picked up in the evening.

“This one, because it moved so fast, it was a little shocking,” Ortega said of the fire.

Raj Shankara, his wife and two young kids were waiting for a rideshare in downtown San Clemente shortly before 8:30 p.m. The evacuation warning for their Capistrano Beach home was lifted, so they were headed home.

Shankara, who works at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, said his branch in San Juan Capistrano was forced to evacuate. The traffic on the way out was a “nightmare,” he said.

“I was scared at first, and then once we got out of the neighborhood, I knew we were safe,” Shankara said. His family spent the rest of the afternoon at the mall in Mission Viejo.

At 7:55 p.m., city employees were closing down the now-empty fire evacuation shelter at the San Clemente Community Center. It was otherwise a bustling Friday evening on Avenida Del Mar, where a family carried pizza boxes back to their car and dressed-up couples strolled into restaurants.

Samantha Wylie, San Clemente’s beach, parks and recreation director, said the city plans to reopen the shelter — which is considered a care and reception facility and intended for daytime use — at 8 a.m. Saturday if any part of the city boundaries remains under evacuation.

About 15 people, as well as several pets — three dogs, a cat and a turtle — checked into the shelter between when it opened at about 1:45 p.m. and when it closed, Wylie said.

Some people stayed at the San Clemente shelter while they reached out to family and friends, since many hotels were booked, she said. Others went to the Red Cross-operated facility in San Juan Capistrano, which is offering overnight shelter.

VIDEO | 00:48

Norte fire destroys multiple homes in Orange County

• Share via Close extra sharing options

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link URL Copied!

The Norte fire, which has burned 465 acres in the area of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, has burned at least six homes, according to fire officials.

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) said at a news conference Friday that his family was among those evacuated from their home due to the Norte fire.

“This is an incredible community, and I cannot tell you how grateful my wife and my mom and our two kids are for you, chief, and for all the firefighters who worked hard today and every day, for all the sheriffs, for all the first responders,” he said. “You saved our entire neighborhood today.”

As of Friday evening, about 6,000 homes, or 16,000 residents, remain under an evacuation order, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Justin Chevalier.

Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) urged residents to be ready for a potential evacuation.

“The wind is picking up again, and I want to ask the residents, this is a good night to stay home. Take advantage of this opportunity you have to make sure you are prepared,” she said at the news conference.

Thirteen children and a driver were injured in separate incidents across Southern California Friday after strong Santa Ana winds brought down branches and felled an entire tree.

In a post on X, Los Angeles County Superior Janice Hahn said a large tree branch fell on 13 children at Katherine Edwards Middle School in West Whittier-Los Nietos, an unincorporated area of the county.

In Santa Clarita, a woman was injured when a large tree fell on her van at the intersection of McBean and Magic Mountain parkways, according to authorities.

The tree block the northbound lanes of McBean Parkway for a time, according to the city. A video shared on social media showed firefighters using chainsaws to cut the tree into sections. A white van could be seen under the tree’s branches.

The Norte fire, which has burned 465 acres in the area of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, remains at 0% containment, according to Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief TJ McGovern.

“Crews will work through the night,” McGovern said. Officials said about 6,000 homes, and 16,000 residents, remain under an evacuation order.

During a Friday evening news conference held at a local football field, McGovern said six homes had been impacted by the fire, and two firefighters were injured and taken to a hospital. The firefighters suffered “significant injuries” but are in stable condition.

“Our current objective is keeping the fire within its current footprint,” he said.

Warm, gusty winds continued to blow as public officials touted their quick response.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California has secured a fire management assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in the response to the Norte fire.

“California is taking decisive action to support our firefighters and protect communities as dangerous winds and dry conditions fuel wildfire threats,” Newsom said in a statement. “By securing this federal assistance, we are ensuring our local and state partners have the critical resources they need to aggressively fight the Norte fire, protect lives and property, and keep Californians safe.”

The grant, which is provided through FEMA on a cost-share basis, will assist response agencies in applying for 75% reimbursement of eligible fire-suppression costs.

The Norte fire ignited at 11:30 a.m. Friday and has scorched 464 acres south of San Juan Capistrano.

Containment on the Bryson fire, which has scorched 147 acres near Encinal Canyon Road in Malibu since igniting Thursday, increased to 39% Friday evening, according to officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In an evening update, officials with the city of Malibu said evacuation warnings in neighborhoods surrounding the fire remain in effect. The blaze has prompted evacuation orders for the Encinal Canyon area near Trancas Canyon.

Several roadways are closed to the public, including:

• Decker Road and Encinal Canyon Road
• Kanan Road and Mulholland Highway
• Mulholland Highway and Westlake Boulevard
• Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Highway and Pacific Coast Highway is restricted to residents during the red flag warning period.

A Red Cross emergency shelter is open for evacuees at Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave. in Agoura Hills.

The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu has opened a disaster relief center for students and families needing wellness support or disaster-related services. The center is located at 23357 Pacific Coast Highway, in the Malibu Village shopping center. Its hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Those with pets or large animals also have options if the need to evacuate:

• Pets and small animals: Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills. For more information, call (818) 991-0071.
• Large animals: Pierce College Equestrian Center, 6201 Winnetka Ave. in Woodland Hills.

Fierce Santa Ana winds caused a chaotic afternoon as a fast-moving fire burned through multiple hillside homes in south Orange County while a nearby blaze in San Onofre shut down the 5 Freeway for hours.

Hot, smoky conditions forced residents in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano to flee and created traffic gridlock from Orange County to Oceanside as the key north-south highway was impacted by multiple fires just miles apart.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has extended red flag parking restrictions in Los Angeles through Sunday morning.

The restrictions are intended to keep parked vehicles out of the roadway, providing access for first responders and people trying to evacuate in the event of a fire.

Parking restrictions are within the designated very high fire hazard severity zone, which includes narrow roads, sharp curves, hairpin turns and key intersections.

A map of the restricted areas can be found here.

A red flag warning remains in effect throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to moderate-to-strong Santa Ana winds, with hot conditions through Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service Oxnard office.

Winds blowing northeast are forecast to be 25 to 40 mph, with gusts of up to 50 to 60 mph.

Potential impacts include downed trees and power lines, localized power outages, airport delays — including at Los Angeles International Airport — and unsecured outdoor items blowing away.

Heat, gusty winds and low humidity are fueling the wind-driven Norte Fire just south of San Juan Capistrano, but forecasters say winds are expected to drop this evening, slowing the fire’s spread.

Current temperatures in the fire zone are in the mid-90s, humidity is just under 20 percent and winds are gusting at about 10 to 20 mph; with 20 to 30 mph on the ridge.

“In terms of winds, right now is the peak,” said Chandler Price, meteorologist with the National Weather Service San Diego office.

The winds, which are pushing the fire west, will slightly drop Friday evening.

“It’ll be steadily sort of breezy, but not quite as strong as it is now, overnight,” Price said. “And then winds will gradually decrease early Saturday morning into the afternoon before finally calming.”

Last weekend the area received about an inch to more than an inch and a half of rainfall, but the vegetation didn’t have enough time to absorb it. Combined with low humidity, the dry vegetation is catching fire more easily and supported the fire’s rapid spread early on.

San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler said the blaze has affected only properties north of the city in San Juan Capistrano largely because of wind direction.

“We haven’t lost any houses in our city,” he said. “The wind right now is being really, really favorable to us, but when it gets dark it has a tendency to shift, so we’re watching it closely.”

The coastal city has been preparing ahead of fire season, deploying goats to chomp away at brush on hillsides and ensuring a steady water supply is available for crews and helicopters, Loeffler said.

“We’ve been cognizant of what can happen in the coastal city with canyons and Santa Ana winds,” he said. “So we’ve been working really hard to prepare ourselves as best we can.”

Loeffler encouraged people not under evacuation order to stay home so the roads are clear for first responders.

“We want to be able to have the people that have to evacuate, and our public safety partners be able to get around the city. So the less traffic on our streets, the better. Hunker down, and I think we’re going to be OK,” he said.

The California Highway Patrol said on X that it has reopened the northbound and southbound lanes on Interstate 5 in San Diego County.

CHP officials had initially reopened the northbound lanes while it kept the southbound lanes closed from Basilone Road to Vandergrift Boulevard. The freeway was shut down for several hours amid the Scales and Henderson fires burning in the region.

Officials are warning of poor air quality for South Orange County residents due to the Norte fire that’s scorched more than 460 acres in San Clemente.

On Friday afternoon, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory alert through Saturday for San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel.

“Smoke and particle pollution is expected to cause unhealthy for sensitive groups or higher AQI impacts,” in these areas, officials said in a post on X.

Officials advise residents to limit their exposure by avoiding physical activity and remaining indoors. If possible residents should turn on their AC units or air purifiers.

In a pocket of the Norte Fire, flames are burning intensely through grass and chaparral, climate scientist Daniel Swain said Friday afternoon.

“We were talking about how the fire risk here was somewhat less, at least than it was in some other parts of Southern California where the rain had not occurred as recently,” Swain said in a livestream on YouTube. “But in this case, clearly the conditions have already dried out enough for significant, relatively high-intensity fire spread.”

The Norte fire has spread from the bushy foothills of San Juan Capistrano into hillside neighborhoods.

Swain said the wind gusts of up to 30 and 40 mph are traveling upslope and hitting the hilltops.

During Swain’s livestream, he notes a “wide mix of preparedness” from the neighborhoods that are near the Norte fire.

Some neighborhoods adjacent to the open space have large margins of defensible space, “but then there are other pockets of these neighborhoods where it almost looks like there’s no mitigations at all,” he said.

“I mean, look at these houses nestled in with the eucalyptus, with chaparral and grass growing up right under the canopy of the eucalyptus grove there, I mean, that’s not exactly best practices management there,” Swain said.

Swain said this Santa Ana wind event doesn’t compare to those which fanned the flames of the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

“It did rain last week, but it is still dry enough and windy enough for this to be a problem,” he said.

OCFA Capt. Sean Doran told The Times in an interview that six homes have been damaged in the Norte fire.

One firefighter suffered a minor heat related injury, Doran said.

The high temperatures and strong Santa Ana wind conditions are unforgiving for firefighters battling the blaze on the ground. The fire is burning in light and medium sized fuels that have been perpetually dry after a hot summer.

“We had rains not too long ago, which seems great, but...after months of just really relentless heat this summer those fuels are still dry,” Doran said.

The Scales fire that broke out south of the San Onofre scales and checkpoint late Friday morning has scorched 20 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire prompted the California Highway Patrol to close Interstate 5 in both directions from Vandergrift Boulevard to Basilone Road.

Linda Verraster was on the deck behind her home in San Clemente, just south of the evacuation zone, on Friday afternoon, watching for signs it might be time to leave.

Temperatures in the area were in the mid-90s and winds howled with gusts up to 35 mph, a less-than-ideal situation for firefighters.

Verraster had already filled her cars with gas and began preparing what she would grab if the fire kept growing.

“We’re watching the wind. I’m getting my cat carriers ready just in case,” she said. “It’s not great.”

The brush fire in South Orange County triggered a massive aerial attack Friday afternoon, with tankers and water-dropping helicopters arriving at the scene from across the state.

At least seven water-dropping helicopters were in the area, many pausing at the nearby Trampas Canyon Reservoir to fill their tanks before releasing water on the burning hillsides.

A Cal Fire air tanker was also dropping retardant.

Officials with the Pacific Surfliner, which provides train service along a 351-mile route from as far south as San Diego to San Luis Obispo counties, said riders will experience significant delays, and, in some cases, cancellations due to the Henderson Fire that’s scorching the foothills south of San Juan Capistrano.

The fire, which has spread south toward the 5 Freeway, is also near the Surfliner’s tracks, which are currently closed.

Earlier on Friday, the Pacific Surfliner said on X that it has suspended all train traffic through the area.

“Currently the trains are returning [to] their origin stations,” the post stated.

The Capistrano Unified School District said on Facebook it was dismissing students early at nine schools Friday as the Norte fire prompted evacuations for parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

The affected schools are:

• Bernice Ayer Middle School
• Clarence Lobo Elementary School
• Concordia Elementary School
• Harold Ambuehl Elementary School
• San Clemente High School
• San Juan Hills High School
• Shorecliffs Middle School
• Truman Benedict Elementary School
• Vista Del Mar

The district said parents and guardians of elementary school students are being asked to report directly to their schools for pickup.

The Orange County Fire Authority said on X that the Norte fire has burned about 465 acres.

So far, the fire has “impacted” four homes. KTLA aerial footage showed at least three homes burning along Via La Mirada in San Juan Capistrano.

The Orange County Fire Authority said on X four homes off Via La Mirada in San Juan Capistrano have been impacted.

Aerial footage by KTLA showed at least three homes burning along the same street earlier in the day.

The Norte fire is burning in a hillside area with dense vegetation and grand subdivisions east of the 5 Freeway in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano area.

The fire, fueled by winds, was snaking through the hillsides and has burned several homes in San Juan Capistrano.

Firefighters are dropping water and flame retardant in neighborhoods and also fighting the fire home-to-home.

“If you’re in the evacuation zone, please leave. Do not stay. The winds are unpredictable.” - Orange County Sup. Katrina Foley said in an interview with KTLA.

Interstate 5 was closed again Friday through Camp Pendleton due to the Henderson fire.

Smoke from the fire covered parts of the interstate, leading to the closure from Oceanside to the Orange County line.

It’s unclear when it will reopen.

The freeway is closed between Vandergrift Boulevard to Basilone Road.

The Henderson fire burned more than 1,000 acres inside the base.

Interstate 5 run near another fire burning near San Clemente.

The Norte fire in south Orange County broke out amid strong Santa Ana winds on Friday morning, triggering mandatory evacuations in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

The fire has burned roughly 250 acres as of 2 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It has also burned multiple homes.

Evacuations

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for San Juan Zones 4, 5, and 10 and San Clemente Zone 12. “If you are in one of these zones, leave immediately,” the Orange County Fire Authority wrote on X.

The evacuation zones include a swath of hillside neighborhoods bordered by the 5 freeway, Ortega Highway and Avenida La Pata. It also extends down into neighborhoods closer to the coast and bordered by the 5 freeway and Camino Los Mares.

You can find a map of the evacuation zones on the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website.

School Closures

The following Capistrano Unified School District campuses are being dismissed early because of the fire:

• Bernice Ayer
• Clarence Lobo
• Concordia
• Harold Ambuehl
• San Clemente
• San Juan Hills
• Shorecliffs
• Truman Benedict
• Vista Del Mar
  

Shelters

Shelters have been established at the following locations:

• San Juan Capistrano Community Center at 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano.
• San Clemente Community Center at 100 Calle Seville, San Clemente.

A fast-moving fire in south Orange County has burned multiple homes in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano areas, as fierce Santa Ana winds fueled fire danger from Malibu to Camp Pendleton.

Dubbed the Norte fire, the conflagration quickly scorched 250 acres, prompting evacuation orders as multiple helicopters worked quickly to try to douse the flames, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

News video showed at least one building burning. Around the same time, a vegetation fire ignited along the 5 Freeway near San Onofre, leading to the closure of north and southbound lanes from Vandergrift Boulevard to Basilone Road, according to Cal Fire.

A little more than 62,000 Southern California Edison customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were without power late Thursday night, with the utility considering implementing public safety power shutoffs for hundreds of thousands more as red-flag warnings continued.

By de-energizing power lines, utility providers seek to lessen the chances that an electrical spark could be whipped by winds into a wildfire.

The Bryson fire has burned 200 acres in Malibu, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire, which is burning near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway, erupted shortly before 5 p.m.

The Red Cross said on Facebook that it had set up a shelter at Agoura High School, at 28545 W. Driver Ave. in Agoura Hills.

Evacuees can take their pets to the Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Blvd. in Agoura Hills.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has closed roads at the following intersections:

• Decker Road at Encinal Canyon Road
• Kanan Road at Mulholland Highway
• Mulholland Highway at Westlake Boulevard

The Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has lifted an evacuation order that was issued Thursday afternoon when a massive brush fire broke out.

The Henderson fire, which has burned 1,404 acres, broke out shortly after 3 p.m., triggering power outages and threatening several buildings on the base. An evacuation order was issued for Area 41, a sub-base located in the southern-central part of the base.

The fire also briefly prompted the closure of the 5 freeway near the base in San Diego County.

The Los Angeles County Probation Department said it evacuated 38 young people from its juvenile camp in Malibu due to the Bryson fire.

The department said theyouths were moved from the Campus Vernon Kilpatrick to another juvenile hall in Sylmar.

The department said the camp, which was renamed last year, shifted from a traditional juvenile hall to a rehabilitation camp known as the L.A. Model. The department said on its website that the transition began around 2021.

The Getty Villa announced on Facebook that it would be closed Friday to help keep surrounding roads clear for emergency crews who are responding to the Bryson fire.

“Visitors with reservations for the Getty Villa are welcome to visit the Getty Center instead or reschedule their Getty Villa visit for a future date,” the post read.

The Getty Villa, at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, opened in 1974 to showcase the art collection of J. Paul Getty, much of which was moved to the Getty Center in Brentwood in 1997.

Mayor Karen Bass said Los Angeles fire officials are pre-deploying personnel and resources to potential fire hot spots including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, and Hollywood.

The announcement comes amid concerns about continued Santa Ana winds through Saturday. Winds on Thursday drove brush fires in Malibu and Camp Pendleton.

“We are closely monitoring the Bryson fire in Malibu,” Bass said.

Reviews of the Los Angeles Fire Department response to the January 2025 firestorm revealed critical failures to pre-stage resources. In particular, fire officials drew heat for failing to pre-deploy any engines to the Pacific Palisades, despite forecasters warning of extreme fire weather conditions.

The red-flag alert in effect Thursday is one step below the rare “particularly dangerous situation” warning that was issued in advance of the Palisades fire. Nonetheless, there has been a noted effort to ensure fire equipment and personnel are ready to respond to any potential ignitions in high-fire-hazard zones across the county.

In addition to the pre-deployed L.A. Fire teams, the L.A. County Fire Department has bolstered its on-duty staff by around 100 personnel, while additional firefighting crews have been sent to Southern California by the governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said that wind gusts around the location of the Malibu fire are topping 29 mph.

“The winds are expected to increase significantly overnight, gusts of 50 to 60 mph possible,” officials said

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation order east of Highway 23 and South of Mulholland Highway.

The Bryson fire, which has blackened 102 acres, has been burning near the area of Encinal Canyon Road and Zuma Ridge Motorway. A similar order was issued earlier for the Encinal Canyon area near Trancas Canyon.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes Malibu, told Fox 11 News that the fire appeared to be burning south-southwest. She said there had been no reports of injuries.

Evacuation orders and warnings can be viewed on the Genasys Evaucation Map.

As night fell Thursday, firefighters battled the Bryson fire in Malibu, which had grown to more than 100 acres by around 7 p.m. Evacuation orders and warnings are in place covering a large portion of the community.

Here are some scenes from the firefight:

Emergency personnel are silhouetted against a sky darkened by smoke on Thursday in Malibu.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

An L.A. County Fire Department helicopter makes water drops on the Bryson fire.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters and other emergency personnel stage near the Malibu blaze.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

A Type 1 helicopter fights the Bryson fire.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The Bryson fire sparked around 5 p.m. and quickly grew to more than 100 acres.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Emergency personnel fight the Malibu blaze.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The Bryson fire has burned 102 acres in the Malibu area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire, which erupted shortly before 5 p.m., has sparked evacuation warnings and one evacuation order for the Encinal Canyon area, near Trancas Canyon, according to fire and law enforcement officials.

The fire comes amid Southern California’s first major Santa Ana wind event of the season, which has triggered Red Flag Warnings across L.A. and Ventura Counties.

Camp Pendleton told personnel of two evacuation points on the base for those impacted by the Henderson fire.

One is at the 21 Area gym. The other is at the Paige Field House located in the 11 Area.

More information is available here.

Pepperdine University say it is monitoring the Bryson fire, which is burning about eight miles away from the campus.

“The fire does not currently pose a threat to Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. Considerable firefighting resources have been assigned to address this incident. Firefighting aircraft and smoke may be visible from campus,” the university said in a statement.

Officials said the winds were not blowing toward the campus.

Firefighters were battling windy, hot conditions in the Bryson fire in Malibu.

Winds along Castro Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains were gusting up to 43 mph on Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Near Pepperdine University, the temperature was 87 degrees and winds were gusting at 39 mph around 5:30 p.m., the weather service said.

Multiple fixed-wing aircraft and water-dropping helicopters were hitting the fire hard, focusing much of their efforts on the evacuated communities south of the blaze.

Officials hoped to continue to drop before nightfall. Fire retardant also was being dropped.

A large swath of Malibu is under an evacuation warning.

The fire was sparked at 5 p.m. around the Zuma Ridge Motorway and was burning toward the Pacific Ocean.

As of 6:30 p.m., it was about 80 acres.

Interstate 5 has reopened, all lanes in both directions, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP warned in a post on X that “conditions remain subject to change” due to the Henderson fire, which erupted near Camp Pendleton, and that more freeway closures could become necessary. The fire has burned 1,117 acres.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation order for the area of Encinal Canyon area near Trancas Canyon as the Bryson fire continues to advance.

The fire has burned 80 acres and has prompted more evacuation warnings. The new evacuation zones are:

CRN-U019

LBO-U018

MAL-C113

MAL-C114

MCR-U021-A

MLK-U020

VST-U046

WLV-C201

The Bryson fire has burned about 20 acres, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was reported around 4:40 p.m. in the 400 block of Encinal Canyon Road, the department said on X. Fire officials said the fire appears to be spotting, or sending burning embers ahead of the fire front.

Caltrans has closed Interstate 5 due to the fast-moving Henderson fire at Camp Pendleton.

The 5 Freeway, a key north-south route in Southern California, is closed northbound at Harbor Drive in Oceanside and southbound at Basilone Road.

The fire has burned more than 1,000 acres and closed roads on the military base.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for areas near the Bryson fire, according to a public-safety map.

The evacuation zones are:

SYC-V016

KAN-017

LEO-U015

You can check Genasy Evacuation Map for more details:

https://protect.genasys.com/en?lat=34.0885&lng=-118.78&z=11.3

A brush fire has broken out in Malibu near the intersection of Mulholland Highway and Encinal Canyon Road, according to fire officials.

Dubbed the Bryson fire, it has burned at least five acres. The Angeles National Forest Service said it is sending one of its aircraft to assist Los Angeles County firefighters. The fire was reported shortly before 5 p.m.

Firefighters were battling a rapidly growing fire in Camp Pendleton on Thursday afternoon.

The Henderson fire had burned more than 1,000 acres on the base in San Diego County by about 5 p.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and was visible from Interstate 5.

At about 4:15 p.m., a threat to Interstate 5 was issued for the Henderson fire, according to Cal Fire.

Camp Pendleton officials said:

• Las Pulgas and Stuart Mesa roads are closed.
  
• The Las Pulgas Gate is closed to all vehicles except emergency vehicles until further notice.

As of about 5 p.m., there was no containment.

Southern California Edison is warning of power shutoffs due to the Santa Ana winds.

Tens of thousands of customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were without power on Thursday, with the utility considering implementing public safety power shutoffs for hundreds of thousands more. By de-energizing power lines, utility providers seek to lessen the chances that an electrical spark could be whipped by winds into a wildfire.

Check Southern California Edison’s website for the latest information.

All evacuation warnings issued earlier have been downgraded for the Peak fire, which broke out Thursday on a ridge north of San Gabriel Canyon Road and Mirador Drive in Azusa.

Fire crews have stopped the progress of the fire, which was mapped at 43 acres with 31% containment.

Evacuation warnings for the following areas have been downgraded to advisories:

• AZU-ABC01
• AZU-CYN01-A
• AZU-NOB01
• AZU-QRY01
• LAC-E168-A
• LAC-E170-A

The evacuation order for AZU-MC01 area has changed to an evacuation warning.

An evacuation shelter remains open for those displaced by the fire at the Memorial Park North Recreation Center, 340 N. Orange Ave.

The Azusa Police Department announced that northbound traffic on San Gabriel Canyon Road was closed at Sierra Madre Avenue.

As afternoon gusts began to pick up in the Santa Monica Mountains, state and city parks went quiet in an effort to curtail ignitions.

Yellow caution tape whipped in the wind at a trailhead in Topanga State Park, not far from where the 2025 Palisades fire broke out. A few hikers sneaked into the parking lot between the patrol shifts of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officers. An officer sitting in his car shook his head as one returned.

Another person pulled up in a Tesla.

“Is that trailhead closed right now?” he asked. “Bummer. I was trying to do heat training.”

Temescal Canyon Park remained empty, despite nothing blocking residents from wandering in from the sidewalk.

The entrance of Will Rogers State Historic Park was gated off.

“CLOSED TO PUBLIC ENTRY … EXTREME FIRE DANGER,” read a laminated sheet of paper zip-tied to the gate.

Amid today’s Santa Ana wind event, Daniel Swain — a climate scientist and researcher with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources who specializes in extreme weather, climate and environmental threats in California — will host a livestream this afternoon.

Swain said he’ll discuss where recent rains have and have not reduced the risk of fires while assessing any active events such as the Peak fire in Azusa, which has burned about 50 acres, prompting evacuations orders and warnings before they were downgraded to advisories.

Swain told The Times earlier that areas west of the 405 Freeway are at a greater risk for wildfires than those east of the 405, which benefited from rain from post-Tropical Storm Rachel.

Topanga — an extremely high-fire-risk community tucked far into the Santa Monica Mountains — is in high gear working to prevent fires and keep residents safe.

The community’s volunteer-led Arson Watch group was deploying for 24/7 monitoring throughout the red-flag warning to catch suspicious or dangerous behavior, said Topanga Town Council President Carrie Carrier.

Officials closed roads into Topanga to nonresidents to reduce the number of people who would potentially need to evacuate.

The roads with limited access include Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Mulholland Drive to Pacific Coast Highway and Old Topanga Canyon Road from Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

The line to get in on the north side of town reached about half a mile long Thursday, according to James Grasso, president of the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness.

The group was encouraging residents to brush up on evacuation plans, prepare their “go bags,” and consider moving any large animals they have out of town.

Southern California Edison placed Topanga under consideration for power shutoffs to reduce the potential for fire ignition. Grasso said a few homes in the town were already without power.

Power shutoffs are particularly challenging for Topanga. Without power, there is no cell service.

So, Grasso and residents remain prepared to transition to backup options for communication, including using Starlink satellite internet and old-school family radios.

“We’ve had a few scares of fires a little earlier … but so far so good,” Grasso said. “It’ll be just a nervous time, but we’re looking forward to Sunday.”

Pacific Palisades residents are closing their patio umbrellas, watering down their landscaping and canceling plans out of town to instead watch their homes.

Although the Santa Ana winds will hit other areas harder, the Westside enclave remains under a red flag warning, and the memory of the Palisades fire remains fresh.

“I think everyone is just more paranoid,” said Pacific Palisades resident Emila Tavangarian. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with the weather, but the fact that it happened one day, it could happen again.”

Mary Connelly, a longtime resident, texted her friend that she wouldn’t be able to visit in Manhattan Beach Friday. She’s kept her “go bag” ready and is considering taking in patio furniture cushions that could easily burn.

“I think I need to stay closer to home,” said Connelly, who remembers struggling to reach her house after the Palisades fire erupted.

“Santa Ana winds have always seemed sort of creepy,” she said. “It’s the wind coming from the direction it’s not supposed to come from. It’s warm; it’s not supposed to be warm. It’s always sort of struck me as unsettling.”

Some residents worried about water, with the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which was down during the Palisades fire, still not online. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power recently instructed residents to limit their water use as they repaired pipes in Brentwood.

Despite that, residents found some comfort that the mayor and fire chief were in the neighborhood Thursday morning to prepare for the weather, as were extra fire engines from around the state.

Connelly said firefighters drove through the streets checking on residents Thursday morning. Another crew had just walked out of the Palisades Garden Cafe, where she was sitting.

“You have to believe it has to be better,” Connelly said of the city’s emergency preparedness. “I need to live in a world where I believe it’ll be better.”

Here are some basic tips to deal with wildfires.

There are three types of evacuation alerts: shelter-in-place, evacuation warning and evacuation order, according to Ready L.A. County.

Shelter-in-place means staying indoors, shutting all windows and doors. Under this order, you’ll have to prepare to self-sustain until further notice or until you’re contacted by emergency officials for additional direction.

Evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. People who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.

Evacuation order means there’s an immediate threat to life. This is an order to leave immediately and the area is closed to public access.

When you receive a shelter-in-place or evacuation warning you should start preparing a “go-bag,” if you don’t already have one. This is a bag that carries important documents, extra medicine and other essentials and that’s easily accessible if you need to urgently run out the door.

If you are evacuating your home or preparing for the possibility, here are a few things you should pack.

Stay in the know about warnings and alerts by signing up with your local emergency mass notification system.

Los Angeles County residents can sign up with Alert L.A. County, Notify L.A. and Nixle to receive notifications via text message or email. Stay updated on weather forecasts by tuning in to your local news broadcast station and checking the National Weather Service Los Angeles office website.

Read more here.

Plus:

1. Here is our full wildfire safety guide.

2. Tips for “fire proofing” your house.

3. Before the fire comes: A guide.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews are responding to a growing brush fire in Azusa.

Dubbed the Peak fire, the blaze has grown to more than 20 acres north of San Gabriel Canyon Road and Mirador Drive — up on a ridge.

There is an evacuation order, meaning officials are warning the fire is a threat and people must leave the area, for AZU-MC01.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for the following areas:

• AZU-ABC01
• AZU-CYN01-A
• AZU-NOB01
• AZU-QRY01
• LAC-E168
• LAC-E170

Los Angeles Fire officials worked rapidly to contain a 1-acre brush fire that ignited off La Tuna Canyon Road — south of the 210 Freeway between Tujunga and Crescenta Highlands.

Within an hour fire crews responded to the blaze in medium-to-heavy brush. Crews were able to stop the fire at 1:23 p.m. No injuries or structure impacts were reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department remains on scene for mop-up operations and full containment of the burned area.

Fire officials are responding to a 1-acre brush fire off La Tuna Canyon Road — south of the 210 Freeway between Tujunga and Crescenta Highlands.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is responding to the blaze, which is burning in medium to heavy brush. Officials say the fire is spreading at a moderate rate, with light winds in the area.

No structures are currently threatened.

Moderate-to-strong Santa Ana winds, combined with expected hot temperatures, have officials on high alert. Forecasters say much of southwestern California will experience widespread critical fire weather through Saturday.

“All systems go for the first Santa Ana of the season,” the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office said in a statement.

Gusts of 60 to 70 mph have already been recorded in the mountains and canyon areas, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the Oxnard office.

The wind is expected to peak mid-morning and then taper off slightly in the afternoon and into the evening. Winds throughout much of the region will top out in the range of 40 to 50 mph.

Friday will be the peak of the Santa Ana event, with wind speeds about 10 mph greater than Thursday, Wofford said.

“Residents need to take these conditions seriously and prepare now,” said L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District covers fire-prone communities in the Angeles National Forest and the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

Strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to rapid and intense fire spread, leaving little time to react.

“We know how quickly these conditions can turn dangerous, and we know that preparation saves lives. I urge every household to treat this warning as a call to act today,” she added.

Residents can sign up for emergency notifications through Alert LA County.

Temperatures Thursday are expected to reach 95 degrees along Los Angeles County beaches, the Malibu coast, Palos Verdes Hills and other nearby areas. It’ll be even warmer inland.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health is warning of possible heat-related illness and urging residents to take precautions by:

• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
• Wearing lightweight clothing and hats outdoors and, if possible, using an umbrella for coverage — avoid going outside during the hottest hours
• Keeping cool at home with air conditioning or visiting a cooling center

The weather in Pacific Palisades remained calm Thursday morning, but L.A. Fire Department Station 69 was still on high alert.

Two bright yellow fire engines from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services were packed into the neighborhood station along with LAFD engines and trucks. Three more CalOES engines were parked along the street.

Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. Fire Chief Jaime Moore visited the station for briefings on how the city was preparing to keep vulnerable areas safe. Around 10:30 a.m., crews gathered in a circle to go over pre-deployment plans.

Top of mind were the Santa Susana corridor near Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, the Foothills corridor near Sunland, and Pacific Palisades.

“Some people are suffering from PTSD, and it’s understandable,” Moore said as he stood outside Station 69. “So the biggest thing we need to do is recognize the potential, be quick to respond, be quick to communicate, and make sure that we get the resources there to be able to put it out really fast.

“That’s what’s gonna build the trust in this community.”

Mayor Karen Bass walked out of Palisades Garden Cafe Thursday morning wearing a Los Angeles Fire Department jacket.

“We’re here for the red flag warning,” she said, noting she had just met with Fire Chief Jaime Moore at Station 69 in Pacific Palisades, before stepping into her vehicle.

Although Southern California got some rain Sunday and Monday, most of it fell in areas south of Los Angeles County, leaving Los Angeles and Ventura counties very dry, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Areas west of the 405 Freeway are at a greater risk for wildfires than those east of the 405, which benefited from rain from post-Tropical Storm Rachel, said Daniel Swain, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist. Some places received 2 to 5 inches of rain, while others in Southern California got essentially no rain.

“West of that point, almost no rain fell at all, and in early October we had a record-breaking heat wave,” Swain said. “East of the 405 in Southern California, the fire risk is lower because it recently rained.”

The National Weather Service says “strong winds are coming Thursday through Saturday for portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Thursday Night through Friday is the most concerning.”

Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, large swaths of Southern California will see sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph and gusts from 40 to 60 mph, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

In the windiest mountain locations, gusts could reach 70 mph, he said.

Parking restrictions are now in place in some areas of Los Angeles following the city’s declaration of a “Red Flag Day,” a move to keep critical roads clear for first responders in the event of a wildfire.

A Red Flag Day is announced when weather conditions are ripe for a possible fast-moving brush fire. These are defined as wind speeds of 25 mph or more and humidity of 15% or less, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

When a Red Flag Day is declared, parking is strictly prohibited in areas within designated “very high fire hazard severity zones,” which include narrow roads, sharp curves, hairpin turns and key intersections. These are areas where parked cars can block access for emergency responders and trap residents during an evacuation, according to fire officials.

Vehicle left in a parking restricted zone will be towed.

The restricted areas are labeled with signs installed by the L.A. Department of Transportation. There is also a online map that displays the restricted parking areas.

The fire risk isn’t nearly as bad as in January 2025, just before the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, which destroyed much of Altadena and Pacific Palisades, said Daniel Swain, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist. Still, there are concerns.

“This is not January 2025. The winds are not going to be anywhere near as strong. They will not be as widespread. The vegetation is not as dry. So every single factor is less extreme than in January 2025,” Swain said. “The risk is not going to be as high, and it will be more localized because some places have seen recent rain.”

But in places that have remained dry, there will be risks.

In those “pockets,” Swain said, “this will be potentially a fairly high-end event. So on the western side of the L.A. metro [area], into Ventura, Santa Barbara counties, the risk is still potentially pretty high. ... It just hasn’t really rained there much yet this season, and there was recent record heat, and the wind will be pretty strong. So there may be public safety power shutoffs.”

Access to Topanga Canyon is limited to two roads for residents only, some business owners, employees and caregivers.

For the duration of the red flag warning only residents can access:

• Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Muholland Drive to Pacific Coast Highway
• Old Topanga Canyon Road from Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon Boulevard

Law enforcement has created a stop at each access point, where residents must either present an access card or proof of residency.

Accepted proof of residency includes:

• Driver’s License: Must list an address in the neighborhood.
• Utility Bill: Showing your name and address, matching your driver’s license.
• Additional Proof of Residency: If your license does not show your current Topanga address, you can provide a lease agreement or an official document from the IRS or a state agency showing your name and Topanga address.
• Local Business Owners & Employees: Carry proof of business ownership or employment in Topanga, such as a business card.
• Caregivers: If you do not yet have a Critical Services Topanga Access Card, carry proof of employment.

If a resident or person is turned away go to the help desk at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station located at 27050 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills, or call (818) 878-1808.

Tired of all of those hot, humid storms rolling up from the tropics and making October in Los Angeles feel like August in Miami?

Exhausted from all the news about coastal erosion and flooding?

Both the L.A. city and county fire departments are strategically pre-deploying personnel and equipment in advance of this week’s dangerous fire weather. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is also positioning additional firefighters, aircraft and equipment in Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara counties.

Mayor Karen Bass’ office projected confidence that the city was better prepared to handle upcoming red flag conditions.

A spokesperson for the mayor said that all L.A. Department of Water and Power tanks that service hillside areas are full of water, and all open-air reservoirs remain available for firefighting support — with no current concerns about water pressure in the city’s hydrant system.

The L.A. County Fire Department is augmenting staffing by around 100 personnel on Thursday and Friday, according to department spokesperson Pauline McGee. The department is pre-staging resources such as fire engines, strike teams, camp crews, water tenders and drone crews in known high-risk areas including Malibu, the 101 Freeway corridor and the Antelope Valley, she said.

On Tuesday morning, LAFD Capt. Anthony Tubbs said it was too early to know precisely what resources will be positioned and where, noting that “those decisions are made based on the information that we’re provided by the National Weather Service forecasters and our command staff goes through their decision-making process minute by minute.”

With red-flag fire weather warnings in place, several agencies overseeing portions of the Santa Monica Mountains announced Wednesday they were temporarily closing many parks.

In March, California State Parks, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority announced they would start coordinating park closures across the area whenever the National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings, indicating the risk of a wildfire is high.

Southern California’s specter of ruinous wildfire is back. The first Santa Ana winds of the season are expected to bring 20- to 40-mph winds, and gusts potentially exceeding 60 mph to valleys and coastal mountain ranges through Friday afternoon.

Scientists have projected that by 2100, human greenhouse gas pollution will cut back the number of days these winds blow. Now, a research team led by UCLA scientists has found it’s already happening.

What are Santa Ana winds?

Santa Ana winds are strong, dry downslope winds in Southern California and northern Baja California. They’re caused by clockwise circulation around areas of surface high pressure east of the Sierra Nevada in the Great Basin region. These offshore winds occur mainly in the fall, but can arise during other seasons as well.

Read more about the science of the winds here.

Patt Morrison on the “devil winds.”

Graphics: How the winds work.

A red flag warning is now in effect for parts of Los Angeles County and Ventura County through Saturday at 8 p.m.

The warning covers hillside, mountain and valley areas incliuding the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel Valleys as well as much of Ventura County.

A high wind watch was in effect for interior areas of San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties.