The Henderson Fire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has burned 3,132 acres and is 35 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page, last updated at 10:43 a.m. on Saturday, October 17. The agency lists one structure destroyed.
In its Saturday morning briefing, officials said the higher acreage reflected improved mapping and a more accurate assessment of growth since Friday. Crews worked overnight in Las Pulgas Canyon and strengthened control lines along the northwest side. Saturday’s work focuses on extinguishing hot spots along the northern perimeter and inside the fire area.
The Henderson Fire was first reported at about 2:35 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, near Henderson and Brown streets in the western part of the base in northern San Diego County. Pushed by Santa Ana winds, it crossed containment lines on its northwest side on Friday. By Friday evening, Cal Fire reported the fire at 2,080 acres and 20 percent contained.
Response and closures
The Camp Pendleton Fire Department holds jurisdiction and is leading the response, supported by Cal Fire air and ground units and other agencies. Interstate 5, which runs through the base, closed twice and later reopened.
Camp Pendleton ordered the Las Flores area — the base’s 41 Area — to evacuate Thursday afternoon; that order was lifted at 7:31 p.m. Thursday as the immediate threat eased, and a shelter operated at Paige Field House. Officials stressed there were no evacuations in the communities surrounding the base. Earlier reporting indicated no injuries or destroyed structures; CAL FIRE’s Saturday incident page now lists one structure destroyed. The cause is under investigation.
Fire weather continues
Red flag conditions were expected to continue across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Saturday evening. Figures in this report are as reported by Cal Fire and the Times of San Diego as of Friday evening, October 16.
This is a developing story.
Sources: Times of San Diego; Signal Post News; NBC 7 San Diego.
