Cristianitos Fire: 400-Acre Brush Fire Burns At Camp Pendleton, Threatens Homes In San Clemente

CAMP PENDLETON, CA – A rapidly spreading 400-acre brush fire burned through the northwestern part of Camp Pendleton and moved toward San Clemente on Wednesday, threatening a nearby animal shelter and homes.

The fire, called the Cristianitos Fire, was first reported about 6:15 p.m. near San Mateo Campground along Cristianitos Road, according to Camp Pendleton's Public Affairs Office.

Base officials said that the blaze was 10 to 15 acres shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Twitter. By almost 7 p.m., the fire had reached 250 acres.

More than 350 military and civilian firefighters, including crews from CAL FIRE, are fighting the fire, which had spread to 400 acres by 8 p.m., officials said.

The fire threatened an animal shelter on Avenida Fabricante, as well as some homes on Avenida Pico in San Clemente, but the blaze was completely on Camp Pendleton property, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz.

No evacuations have been ordered, according to Orange County Fire Authority.

Airborne crews made a line between the flames and homes north of Cristianitos Road in San Clemente, officials said. The U.S. Forest Service mobilized its night-flying helicopter to assist in the firefight.

A containment figure was not immediately available, but Kurtz said around 8 p.m. that the fire's westward progression had been nearly stopped.

"We are looking a lot better than we were an hour ago," he said.

It is unclear what caused the fire.

No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates. Details may change as more information becomes available.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Top photo credit Orange County Fire Authority

Second photo credit Austin Reagan / Twitter