San Clemente:Orange County A wildfire in Orange County, California, has burned 570 acres and damaged or destroyed seven homes, prompting a mass evacuation before firefighters made progress in containing the blaze.

According to Anadolu Agency, all evacuation orders were lifted Saturday night as crews continued battling the Norte Fire, which was 25% contained. The fire had initially broken out around midday Friday in San Clemente, spreading rapidly and forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes. At its peak, about 4,600 homes and nearly 16,000 people were within the evacuation zone.

As conditions improved, officials lifted evacuation orders in parts of San Clemente, allowing residents to gradually return to a zone in San Juan Capistrano. Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief T.J. McGovern noted at a news conference Friday evening that the fire moved quickly due to challenging weather and topography, describing the wind as relentless.

No injuries among residents had been reported as of Friday, although two firefighters were injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The wildfire erupted amid dangerous weather conditions, including high temperatures and strong Santa Ana winds, with red flag warnings in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the Antelope Valley foothills through Saturday night.

Fire crews also faced the challenge of managing another major blaze nearby. The Norte Fire was burning about 20 miles north of the Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, which had scorched 2,079 acres. On Friday, officials reported that around 400 firefighters were working to contain the Norte Fire, with another 400 expected to join the effort.