Evacuation orders as fast-moving Norte Fire burns homes south of Los Angeles

Evacuation orders in California are in effect due to a rapidly growing wildfire that has already burned six homes in the southern Los Angeles area.

The Norte Fire erupted on Friday in Orange County and quickly grew to 465 acres by the evening. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion while battling the blaze.

Officials say the fierce Santa Ana winds will blow until Saturday, bringing further risk of more conflagrations.

The US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a red flag warning for several California counties due to strong, gusty winds combined with low humidity and dry vegetation that create critical wildfire spread conditions.

The Norte Fire is one of 13 burning across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In an update on Friday evening, Division 3 Fire Chief Mark Backoff said that six homes had either been damaged or destroyed by the Norte Fire, and one firefighter had been injured from heat exhaustion.

“We continue to engage in the firefight, and have additional resources coming,” he said.

Footage posted online showed blazes tearing through homes in the communities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

The Bryson Fire, burning in the affluent coastal city of Malibu in Los Angeles county, has also sparked evacuation orders throughout the Santa Monica mountains and has grown to 147 acres.

More than 400 firefighters have been fighting the blaze.