2 Fires Burn 400 Acres, Prompt Evacuations On Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, CA – Two brush fires broke out Friday on Camp Pendleton, burning hundreds of acres and prompting facilities and homes to be evacuated on the military base.

The first blaze sparked around 11:30 a.m. in the Mainside area of the base, according to Camp Pendleton officials. By Friday evening, the fire, called the Vadegrift Incident, had scorched 350 acres and was 40 percent contained.

About 750 homes had been evacuated, according to officials. Evacuations were ordered for Lake O'Neill Recreational Park, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service building, the O'Neill Heights housing community, and the De Luz housing community and Child Development Center. Evacuated residents were sent to Paige Field House.

Shortly before 7 p.m., officials confirmed a second fire, called the Horno Incident, had burned 50 acres. The blaze also prompted the closure of Basilone Road.

Although smoke was visible in North County, there were no evacuations in Oceanside, police said.

The fire sparked amid a record-breaking heat wave in San Diego County. Three other fires broke out Friday in Alpine, Dulzura and Miramar. The county declared a local emergency due to the fires. Gov. Jerry Brown later issued an emergency proclamation for the county due to the West Fire in Alpine, which destroyed homes, threatened infrastructure and caused the evacuation of residents.

More than 60 wildfires were burning in California and 12 other states. Click here for details.

Also see:

• Building Fire Burns Structure, Threatens Others In Dulzura
• West Fire Burns Homes, Forces Evacuations In Alpine
• Brush Fire Burns In Miramar
• Record-Breaking Heat Expected In San Diego County