Fast-growing wildfires engulf California mansions

Wind-whipped flames scorched multi-million dollar homes south of Los Angeles on Friday as a wildfire quickly ravaged hundreds of acres. Dramatic footage showed burning homes and thick smoke billowing from the tinder-dry bushy hills, where the quick-spreading fire is fuelled by intense Santa Ana winds, low humidity and unseasonably high temperatures. The Orange County Fire Authority said on X that the so-called Norte fire had scorched about 465 acres (188 hectares) and that at least four homes had been impacted in the affluent San Juan Capistrano municipality. The agency said firefighters were "aggressively attacking the fire from ground and air" and issued repeated pleas for people to stay clear of the area. The fast-moving blaze prompted widespread evacuation orders as multiple helicopters vied to douse the flames. Officials also warned of poor air quality for residents nearby. The National Weather Service warned of "high risk for large fires and rapid fire growth" especially over Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as the mountains and foothills of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Firefighters were also busy battling the Bryson fire, which broke out overnight on the outskirts of the famed Malibu beach community. As of Friday afternoon that conflagration was at 147 acres and 17...