Helicopter Flies Toward Towering Norte Fire Smoke Over San Clemente Homes

San Clemente, California – A helicopter flew toward a towering column of smoke from the Norte Fire as it rose behind a ridge above a San Clemente neighborhood on October 16, 2026.

X user AnitaMcG filmed the scene shortly before 1 p.m. In the video, thick grey and white smoke billows into a clear blue sky from behind the brown hills, and a helicopter crosses in front of the plume. Below are homes with red tile roofs, and palm fronds sway in the strong wind. "Too close for comfort! High winds, high temps. 2 helos on it. Just had first pass of water tanker," she wrote.