SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Oct. 18 -- Evacuation orders for the Norte Fire came off in stages on Saturday, letting residents of this city and neighboring San Clemente start heading home to neighborhoods where at least six homes had been damaged or destroyed.

Greg Barta, a public information officer with the Orange County Fire Authority, said crews would "continue to attack the fire and work towards getting residents home as soon as it's safe to do so." Robert Morris, who has lived in the area since 1995, was quoted by CBS Los Angeles saying it was the first time "we've really ever had a fire in this area," and calling it "a wake-up call."

The orders lifted around 6 p.m. covered San Juan Capistrano Zones 4 and 5 and San Clemente Zone 12, after...