Evacuations Issued When 1,100+ Acre Brush Fire Breaks Out Amid High Winds At Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, CA — A brush fire broke out in Camp Pendleton Thursday afternoon, triggering evacuations of nearby homes.

The blaze erupted shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday in the western reaches of the Marine Corps installation, close to the intersection of Basilone and Las Pulgas roads, authorities reported.

Pushed by winds out of the east, the flames rapidly moved dangerously close to populated areas of the base as ground crews and personnel aboard firefighting aircraft worked to halt their spread, according to Cal Fire.

Shortly after 4 p.m., an incident update from the state agency identified the westward-advancing fire as a "threat to Interstate 5." At 4:30 p.m., the burn zone had grown to an estimated 1,117 acres, Cal Fire advised.

By 4:15 p.m., the flames had threatened the nearby 5 Freeway, structures and above powerlines. Four airtankers assigned to the blaze, according to CalFire.

As of 5:30 p.m., authorities had shut down Interstate 5 between Basilone Road and Harbor Drive. Video shot from inside a vehicle traveling on an unidentified roadway in the area and posted on a Cal Fire incident page shows heavy flames burning to within feet of the edge of the roadway underneath utility poles.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the California Highway Patrol advised that it was reopening Interstate 5, though officials cautioned that the regional route might have to be closed again in the event of additional threats to commuter traffic due to the wildfire.

The blaze, dubbed the Henderson Fire, also forced a closure of Las Pulgas Road on the grounds of Camp Pendleton between Brown Street and Stuart Mesa Road. Additionally, the Las Pulgas Gate to the base was shut down to all traffic except emergency vehicles until further notice.

A power outage was also reported in the 43 Area by Camp Pendleton officials.

Evacuations in the area of Brown and Henderson streets were issued as a result of the fire, Watch Duty reported.

No further information was immediately available.

Follow this developing story for updates.

City News Service and Patch Local Editor Corey Washington contributed to this report.