Fire burns 1,200 acres at Camp Pendleton
Officials order evacuations, but no structures have been damaged.
SAN DIEGO — A fast-moving brush fire burned more than 1,200 acres at Camp Pendleton on Monday and forced the evacuation of housing units on and adjacent to the base's southern edge. No structures were damaged, officials said.
The fire broke out about 3 p.m. Within an hour, two housing complexes at Camp Pendleton were ordered evacuated, and Oceanside officials sent evacuation phone calls to more than 1,000 homes and businesses. The homes were adjacent to the San Luis Rey gate.
More than 150 firefighters from the base and civilian agencies fought the blaze as it roared through tall brush. Officials credited the aggressive ground attack, light winds, two super-scooper air tankers and the fire break that base officials maintain between the base and civilian subdivisions with keeping the flames from hitting homes.
Officials were concerned, however, that Santa Ana winds expected for this morning could spread the fire.
