Southern California wildfires subside as Santa Ana winds calm, rain looms
Strong Santa Ana winds have died down, allowing firefighters to gain control of recent blazes, while an approaching storm may bring new hazards.
Fire crews in Southern California are making progress on several wildfires after the powerful Santa Ana winds that sparked them have weakened. The 570-acre Norte fire in San Clemente, which damaged or destroyed at least seven structures, reached 25% containment and all evacuation orders have been cancelled. The 146-acre Bryson fire in Malibu was reported at 68% containment, and the Henderson fire near Camp Pendleton, which burned more than 3,100 acres, was 65% contained.
The National Weather Service cautions that heavy rain this week could cause mudslides and debris flows on the fresh burn scars, even as a cooling trend brings 1-3 inches of precipitation to the coast and foothills. Despite the rain, warm spells are expected to continue into November, and El Niño may bring wetter conditions later in the season. Fire officials are also beginning “suppression repair” work to restore vegetation and reduce runoff risk around the Norte fire area.
Why it matters
The shift from fire danger to flood risk highlights the need for coordinated emergency response in Southern California.
How this story developed
- Oct 9 Tropical storm damage threatens collapse of beachfront home on Long Beach Peninsula
- Oct 12 City crews began reinforcing the boardwalk’s timber bulkhead while distributing additional sandbags.
- Oct 15 A fast-moving wildfire dubbed the Peak Fire burned about 22 acres near Azusa, prompting evacuation orders and warnings as red-flag conditions persist.
- Oct 17 The incident has shifted from the earlier Azusa Peak Fire to the larger Norte Fire affecting Orange County.
- Oct 17 The Norte fire expanded to about 465 acres, destroying six homes and prompting evacuations for roughly 6,000 homes.
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