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Brush fire in California's Camp Pendleton chars 1,000 acres, prompts full closure of Interstate 5

Caleb Lunetta, The San Diego Union-Tribune on

Published in News & Features

SAN DIEGO — A brush fire charred more than a thousand acres on Camp Pendleton Thursday and prompted the closure of Interstate 5 in both directions as dry Santa Ana winds pushed the flames toward the freeway.

The California Highway Patrol has closed the entire 16-mile stretch of freeway running through the base, from Harbor Drive in Oceanside north to Basilone Road. CHP officials warned visibility may be affected by heavy smoke in the area.

The blaze, dubbed the Henderson fire, was first reported around 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Basilone and Las Pulgas roads in the 43 Area, Camp Pendleton officials said in a statement posted on Facebook. The fire posed an immediate risk to infrastructure in the area, and evacuations were ordered in the 41 Area. Residents were told to evacuate to the Paige Field House in the 11 Area or to the 21 Area gym.

The fire was reported to be an estimated 1,117 acres as of 5:30 p.m., Cal Fire officials said. Firefighters were working to slow its spread; four air tankers were assigned to the incident.

The fire also caused multiple power outages at Camp Pendleton, officials said.

A smoke advisory was issued for North County areas, although the smoke could be seen from much of the county.

 

Firefighters were battling the blaze in temperatures around 90 degrees, with wind speeds reaching 15 to 25 mph and gusts as high as 30 mph out of the northeast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser. On Friday, temperatures could rise to the mid-90s, with gusts reaching as high as 40 mph.

The Las Pulgas Gate was closed to all vehicles, and Las Pulgas Road was closed between Stuart Mesa Road and Brown Street, according to base officials. Stuart Mesa Road to Fire Base Gloria was also closed.

The Amtrak Surfliner was not affected by the fire; Thursday’s trains had already been canceled because of anticipated high tides in the area.

(Staff writer Teri Figueroa contributed to this report.)

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©2026 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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