All evacuation orders for the Norte Fire in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano were lifted by 6 p.m. Saturday, October 17, as crews gained ground on the wind-driven blaze. The fire has held at about 570 acres; containment rose from 5% Saturday morning to 25% that evening, 50% on Sunday morning per Cal Fire, and about 60% by Sunday afternoon. Six homes in San Juan Capistrano — along Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada and Via De Agua — were damaged or destroyed. Two firefighters were hospitalized during the initial attack and are recovering; no civilians were hurt. The cause remains under investigation.
Crews have moved to repair work, reshaping bulldozer lines and replanting disturbed areas to limit erosion before rain forecast for later this week. Via La Mirada north of Calle Esperanza and the burn area remained closed over the weekend. The state secured a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant to help cover firefighting costs. Information line: 714-628-7085.
Katie Zacharia, the Huntington Beach native and Orange County conservative commentator named White House press secretary earlier this month, left the job after five days, the White House said Friday. Her short tenure drew scrutiny over her legal credentials; the State Bar of California says it has no record of her being licensed in the state.
① 노르테 산불, 대피령 모두 해제: 산클레멘테·산후안캐피스트라노 일대 대피령이 17일(토) 오후 6시까지 모두 해제됐습니다. 산불은 약 570에이커에서 확산이 멈췄고, 진화율은 토요일 아침 5%에서 일요일 오후 약 60%까지 올랐습니다. 산후안캐피스트라노 주택 6채가 피해를 입었고, 소방관 2명이 초기 진화 중 병원에 이송됐으나 회복 중입니다. 화재 원인은 조사 중이며, 이번 주 비 예보에 대비해 토사 유출 방지 복구 작업이 진행되고 있습니다. 문의: 714-628-7085.
② 헌팅턴비치 출신 백악관 대변인, 5일 만에 퇴진: 케이티 자카리아 대변인이 변호사 자격 논란 끝에 임명 5일 만에 물러났습니다.
Sources: CBS Los Angeles · NBC Los Angeles · FOX 11 Los Angeles · Cal Fire · Patch
