LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters are battling multiple wildfires across Southern California on Saturday as red flag warnings remain in effect amid critical fire weather conditions.
A fast-moving wildfire, dubbed the Norte Fire, has burned 570 acres (about 2.3 square kilometers) near San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano as of Saturday morning, with only 5 percent contained, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
"Crews worked throughout the night to attack the fire and strengthen containment lines," the agency said in an update on X.
Six homes have been damaged or destroyed, the agency said, adding that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Evacuation orders were issued for multiple neighborhoods in the area, affecting approximately 16,000 residents as of Saturday.
The Henderson Fire, the largest of the four wildfires currently burning in Southern California, has scorched 3,132 acres and is 35 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The blaze was first reported Thursday afternoon in San Diego County.
Overnight, firefighters constructed handline along the southern portion of the fire in the heavily vegetated riparian area of Las Pulgas Canyon and worked to extinguish hot spots, Cal Fire said in an update on Saturday morning.
Crews will focus on the northern portion of the fire, extinguishing hot spots along the perimeter and within the interior, it added.
Relative humidity is expected to recover this evening, helping reduce fire activity. However, grasses and other vegetation remain extremely dry and will continue to pose a fire risk until significant, soaking rainfall occurs, according to the agency.
The Bryson Fire, which started on Thursday, has burned 147 acres in Malibu, Los Angeles County, with 52 percent contained.
Fire officials said that more than 700 personnel had been assigned to the fire as of Friday night. Crews will focus on mopping up hot spots identified during an infrared flight, reinforcing existing containment lines and building additional ones.
The smaller Peak Fire has burned 43 acres so far in Los Angeles County and is 41 percent contained.
A heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect until 8 p.m. local time Saturday for parts of Southern California.
Red flag warnings across much of the region prompted Southern California Edison, the area's primary electric utility, to implement public safety power shutoffs, leaving more than 90,000 residents in Los Angeles and Ventura counties without power, local television reports said.
