CALIFORNIA STRUCK by NORTE FIRE! Air Tankers & Helicopters BATTLE Flames Over San Clemente

CALIFORNIA STRUCK by NORTE FIRE! Air Tankers & Helicopters BATTLE Flames Over San Clemente One week ago, on Friday, October 16, 2026, helicopters, water dropping aircraft and air tankers fought the Norte Fire over the hillside homes of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, as the first Santa Ana winds of the season pushed it from 10 acres to 465 acres in about two and a half hours. Four homes off one street were hit at 2:37 PM and an air tanker dropped retardant at 2:53 PM, according to the Cal Fire timeline; seven homes were damaged or destroyed in all and two firefighters were hurt. By Monday, Cal Fire listed the fire at 570 acres and 80% contained, with the cause still under investigation. In this video, we look at the Norte Fire from the air, from the air tanker that laid red retardant behind the hillside homes and the minutes between the first homes hit at 2:37 PM and the drop at 2:53 PM, to the helicopters working the flame line, the Black Hawk refilling at a park pond and the water tank on the ridge, the relentless Santa Ana winds, the news helicopters' view of homes burning, the 800 firefighters on scene or on the way, the heat and dry air, the embers, the freeway closures, the two injured firefighters, the long night and the weekend, the other Santa Ana fires, the closed burn scar, the cause that is still under investigation, the 80% containment and what to do when the next fire comes. EWN (Extreme Weather Network) covers floods, hurricanes and other extreme weather around the world as it develops, with real footage and verified facts from official sources and trusted news outlets. CHAPTERS 0:00 Air Tankers and helicopters vs the Norte Fire 4:08 Residents asked to save water for the fight 7:08 Part of the 5 freeway shut as flames near 10:37 Two firefighters hurt, both doing well 13:39 467 firefighters still on the fire Sunday 17:13 Leave early and let the aircraft work