Crews Work To Contain Burn Zone Of Camp Pendleton-Area Wildfire

SAN DIEGO, CA —Firefighters worked by ground and air Thursday to contain the smoldering remnants of a wildfire that blackened large swaths of open terrain on the grounds of Camp Pendleton and adjacent Cleveland National Forest after erupting at the beginning of the work week.

As of midday Wednesday, the burn area of the blaze was holding at an estimated 1,292 acres and was roughly 60% surrounded by firebreaks, authorities reported. By then, most of the active fire activity had been subdued, said Daniel Lanari, a spokesman for Cleveland National Forest.

The fire, which has caused no reported structural damage or injuries, erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 2 p.m. Monday near San Mateo Creek on the grounds of the military installation near Oceanside, then burned through dense vegetation in rugged terrain on the base and into the federally protected lands of the adjacent San Mateo Canyon Wilderness.

Nearly 500 firefighters, including personnel aboard five water-dropping helicopters, were working to contain the burn zone and snuff out all remaining hot spots.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Lanari said.

— City News Service