Wildfires rage in Southern California, burn homes

Intense wildfires have damaged or destroyed at least six homes in Southern California, prompting evacuations and power outages. The fast-moving blazes are fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and unusually high temperatures. Over 500 firefighters are battling the nearly 2-square-kilometre Norte fire, which started in San Clemente and spread into San Juan Capistrano.

TV footage showed homes engulfed in flames with black smoke billowing over tennis courts and swimming pools. Authorities are aggressively attacking the fires from ground and air, urging residents to stay clear of the affected areas. Tens of thousands of people are without power, and a separate fire has shut down a section of Interstate 5, causing lengthy commutes throughout the region.

Nine schools in San Juan Capistrano were closed on Friday. The coastal city of San Clemente, known for horse trails and the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, is currently evacuating thousands of residents. The Bryson Fire in Malibu, which sparked on Thursday, has died down significantly, and firefighters are now focused on mop-up and containment efforts.

Strong winds are expected to continue through Friday afternoon, with gusts reaching up to 112km/h in some areas, increasing the risk of further wildfires.